Artist Brings Color And Drawings To NPM Cultural Corner

Megan Wood makes art in may forms. She paints. She draws. And she also does tattoos and cuts hair.

The Fremont artist founded Tangled Art, a business devoted to hair, art, and tattoos, and her artwork is currently being displayed at the NPM Cultural Corner, located on the lower level of the .

Read our Q&A below to learn more about how she started in art, who inspires her and what art pieces she is currently working on.

Q: When did your professional art career begin?

My professional art career began in 2009 when I founded Tangled Art and began selling my art. That was also the time when I released my professional website. 

Q: How did you get into art?

I always loved art as a kid and really enjoyed art projects in school. In high school, I took an art class that really ignited my love for art. I developed my own personal style shortly thereafter.  I went off to college and studied both art studio and art history. 

Q: How do you make hair into art?

Being a hairstylist for six years has given me many years to be creative with hairstyling. A lot of stylists consider themselves hair artists, and in the recent years I am too. The most creative and artistic hair style is a drastic change or makeover if you will. Taking a client with long black hair and transforming her look into a short, fire-red pixie is a work of art in itself. 

Q: Why do you specialize more so in colorful painting styles and black and white portrait drawings?

I'd say that my two specialties are my colorful abstract painting styles and my black and white portraits. I personally enjoy my colorful style more during the actual process of painting because it free and loose and I can just go with the flow. I let the painting guide me to the next step. With my portraits, its more of a challenge to capture the essence of a person, which I also really enjoy. 

Q: What about tattoos intrigues you most?

Tattoos are a great way to have personalized art with you at all times. Most times, these pieces of art are very personal to people, and that's something that interests me because I always want to know more.  I started out by getting a few tattoos myself. Then as my skills and techniques with drawing got better and better, I started thinking about becoming a tattoo artist. So I did. I've been tattooing since last year and I really love it. I am always excited to do any tattoo for my clients. 

Q: Who inspires you?

I've always loved and been inspired by the high renaissance artists. Michelangelo, Rafael, da Vinci. I am always amazed that these artists made such beautiful and realistic art. I also love the work of Willem deKooning (an expressionist painter), Claude Monet, and Andy Warhol.

The real inspiration for many of my pieces comes to me in random thoughts or often times in dreams. I like to pull certain elements of my favorite artists together to make my own unique style. 

Q: What is your favorite artwork you have done?

My favorite piece is a titled "Venus". It's is a 20"x 24" acrylic on canvas painting. Venus is my own interpretation of one of my favorite classics, "Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli. It seems to be a fan favorite too. 

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

Right now I have two paintings in the works. One is a seascape in a realistic style. The other is for a client and will be a portrait of her favorite cat.

Wood's artwork will be displayed through February, but the times for her exhibit February have yet to be announced.

January hours for the Tangled Art Exhibit are as follows:

• Jan. 19: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Jan. 22: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
• Jan. 25: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Jan. 26: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Jan. 29: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information about Wood and her art, visit www.tangledartonline.com.