Megan Swoyer

ABOUT ME

I have appreciated art since I was a child growing up in Connecticut, Ohio, and Michigan. When I was very young, my mother gifted me with a learn-to-draw kit that got me dabbling in drawing.

Years later, I began studying watercolors after joining the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. It was there where I began attending workshops and taking classes from top-tier drawing and painting teachers. I also attended various workshops hosted by painters from around the country. This has happily come full-circle, as I'm now a teacher myself and teach watercolor-painting around the state and on Zoom. I have been teaching both in-person and on Zoom since 2014. Feel free to contact me at megan@waterloogroup.com  or hit the 'contact me' link above about classes and workshops!

I enjoy capturing botanical beauty — from stem to stamen to stalk. I also paint landscapes and birds from the mountains and coasts of the West to the beaches of the South to Great Lakes State beauty. I'm all over the place and likely have inventoried work in just about every category!!

When I'm not painting, I'm a professional editor and writer for various publications. I live in Southeast Michigan with my husband. I have two grown sons. We love to vacation at our cottage in Northern Michigan where we enjoy lakeside beauty.

You’ll likely find us hiking or biking or kayaking or canoeing somewhere in this beautiful world where there’s no end to subjects for painting.

Awards & Honors 

• Honorable Mention, “Chickadee Fun,” Take Flight Juried Show, Artisan Hall Gallery, Oscoda Michigan. The painting was turned into a permanent art installment at the Oscoda Public Beach.

• Andrea Tama Award, “Maine Coast,” Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center Juried Student Show, Birmingham, Michigan.

• Our Town Bronze Award, “Fall Market,” annual statewide juried art show, The Community House, Birmingham, Michigan.

• Postcard artist for the Troy Garden Walk, most recently in 2021. Also creator of the official Troy Garden Walk T-shirts, featuring a print of original watercolor work.

• Book Cover artist for nbmtLINK (National Bone Marrow Transplant Link), four different books for patients and caregivers.

• Auction contributor (paintings, three years in a row) for Kevin’s Song, a Michigan-based suicide prevention organization.

• Headliner Guest Artist for Daffodils4Detroit, 2022, an annual fundraiser for the Women’s National Agricultural and Horticultural Association/Michigan to plant daffodils on Detroit’s Belle Isle and beyond.

Upcoming Classes/Workshops

• Greenbush Media, my own company, ongoing classes via Zoom/online and in-person Outdoors, 2018-present. For more information, go to classes on this website, or click here.

• Troy Historic Village, Troy, Michigan. Take all classes or take individually: For more information, visit troyhistoricvillage.org. New classes are ongoing.

• Troy Historic Village, Troy, Michigan. Children’s workshop in the gardens, 2014, 2015.  

• The Community House, I’ve taught here since 2018. Most of the Community House painting classes are on-hold as of 2022. Birmingham, Michigan. Visit communityhouse.com.

• Main Street Art, Milford beginner painting workshops since 2019. Attendees can shop this beautiful facility that sells handmade artist wares as well as art supplies. Framing services also available. Visit mainstreetartmilford.com for more info.

• Charlevoix Circle of Arts, Charlevoix, Michigan, in-person workshops during May 29-30, 2024. Learn more at charlevoixcircle.org. I’ve been teaching here since 2020.

• Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan, Michigan, in-person workshop May 31, 2024, 10 a.m.

• Three Pines Studio, Cross Village, Michigan, in-person workshops. Learn more at threepinesstudio.com.I started teaching here in July, 2022.

• JJ Cardina'ls’ Wild Bird & Nature Store, Grand Blanc, in-person, 5 p.m. For more information, visit jj cardinal.com. I’ve been teaching here since 2019.

• Mackinaw City Area Arts Council, Mackinaw City. For more information on 2024, visit mackinawcityareaartscouncil.org. I’ve been with this organization since 2021.

• Watercolor Cafe, Mackinac Island, 6 p.m. July 7-8, 2024. For more information and to sign up, visit watercolormackinac.com. I’ve been with this organization since 2021.

• Mackinac Arts Council, Mackinac Island Michigan, Geranium Workshop Sept. 2020, Hollyhocks Workshop August 2021, Online workshops including “Lilies & Fence” and “Cafe Umbrellas.” In-person workshops during summers. Visit mackinacartscouncil.org for class info.

• Winter retreat class for VIP’s (also hosted employee class) , Mission Point resort, Mackinac Island, since Dec. 2021, Dec. 23.

• Huron Shores Artisan Hall, Oscoda, July 2022.

  Art Shows/Fairs

• Wawashkamo Golf Club Annual Auction, Mackinac Island, Michigan (guest artist at golf course, as well, proceeds to help fund the club).

• Ste. Anne de Detroit Rendez-Vous art show, Detroit, Michigan.

• Oakland County Master Gardeners Symposium, Pontiac, Michigan.

• Troy Garden Walk, Troy, Michigan (guest artist in gardens, as well).

• Art on the Lake, Troy, Michigan.

• Gilda’s Club, Royal Oak, Michigan (proceeds to Gilda’s Club, cancer support center).

• Beaumont Hospital Holiday Show, Royal Oak, Michigan.

• Franklin Garden Walk, Franklin, Michigan (guest artist in garden, as well).

• Clarkston Garden Walk, Clarkston, Michigan (guest artist in garden, as well).

• Grosse Pointe Garden Center Boutique, Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

• Grosse Pointe Garden Tour, Grosse Pointe Michigan (guest artist in garden as well).

Pop-Up Guest Artist

• Main Street Art, Milford, Michigan. Guest artist at grand opening.

• Artist Market of Mackinac, Mackinac Island, Michigan. Demonstration artist and special  pop-up merchandise section.

• West Elm store, Birmingham, Michigan. Special pop-up merchandise section.

  Juried Exhibits

  • Lawrence Street Gallery, Smalls show, Ferndale, November and December, 2024.

  • Lawrence Street Gallery Invitational, Ferndale, July and August, 2023.

  • Three Pines Studio & Gallery Summer show, Cross Village, June, 2023.

  • Our Town, The Community House, Birmingham, two paintings juried into the 2023 show.

  • Lawrence Street Gallery, Smalls show, Ferndale, November and December, 2022.

  • Art in The Loft, Alpena, juried competition (three paintings) for Five Senses, Oct. 6, 2022 - Nov. 10, 2022. “Heaven Scent,” “Treasured Trillium,” and “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee Spree.”

  • Lawrence Street Gallery Invitational, Ferndale, July and August, annual.

  • Take Flight, Oscoda, Huron Shores Artisan Hall, Oscoda. Juried exhibit June 25-Aug. 23, 2022. Three watercolor bird paintings accepted. Juror Heiner Hertling. June-August, 2022. Award winner with art also printed on a weather-proof outdoor sign for the city’s ART WALK.

  • Charlevoix Circle of Arts: Juried Exhibit: re | Art: a visual comment by Michigan artists on the many shifts taking place in our current experience, 2020, “Golden Dawn.”

  • Our Town, The Community House, Birmingham, Michigan.  Juried, 10 years juried into the show, through 2023.

  • Bloomfield Conference Center, Groves High School, Beverly Hills, Michigan. Invitation to exhibit 12 paintings.

  • The Community House Featured Artist, Birmingham, Michigan. Invitation to exhibit 12 paintings.

  • Summer Solstice Exhibit, private home, Troy, Michigan. Proceeds to Missionaries of Charity, Detroit.
    

  See more of my work on Instagram: @MeganSwoyer

What I Do

I sell my work via my website, art fairs, galleries, stores, resorts and pop-up shops. In addition:

• Custom paintings of your home or a favorite spot in your garden.  

• Custom bridal bouquets.

• I am always traveling and drawing inspiration from new places. I channel this inspiration into ultra-specific artwork and printed products. Need a gift wrap that reflects your shop, resort or region?  I create theme-specific regional giftwrap and gift tags, table linens, post cards, etc.   

• Group and individual beginner and intermediate watercolor classes and workshops, online and in-person. Click on CLASSES in main menu bar.

• Notecards that showcase everything from coastal nature to gardens to birds to Michigan's iconic subject matter (American Red Robin, Brook Trout, Ring-necked Pheasant, etc.)

• Tea towels, women's scarves, cocktail napkins, aprons, place mats, and more, all made from fabrics from the USA with my patterns and all sewn in Michigan. Machine washable, colorfast.