An Interview with Megan Steadman

We sat down with Freelance artist and inspiring writer, Megan Steadman, here’s what she had to say.

Today we have Megan Steadman. She is a freelance artist that has worked for me doing concept art as well as the “Vendetta’s Rise” audiobook cover and the “Blood and Bounty” book cover. Welcome, Megan.

Hi Joe, happy to be here.

So, how did you get into the freelance artwork business?

In mid 2019 I quit my regular job and moved to another state without lining up a new job there. Since I’d had inquiries about commissions from a few people in the past, I figured my newly acquired endless free time would be a good chance to give it a shot and make a little money on the side. And by on the side, I mean on the side of making no money.

I have always been told getting into art was a tough lifestyle. When did you decide you wanted to pursue art as a career?

I foolishly made that decision in high school, before I knew anything about anything. I attended a college fair my junior or senior year where I met ambassadors and department heads of just about every available major at my university of choice, and though I hadn’t even begun to think about what I should study, my parents encouraged me to shoot for graphic design as I’d recently gotten into digital art. Unfortunately I clung to the idea before I learned how difficult and competitive the field was. XD

It sounds like you have a dedicated fanbase in your family? You stuck it out though, did it turn out ok?

I’m actually not sure. School was hard. I learned a lot and my technique definitely improved; I also got to experience several artistic paths I wouldn’t otherwise have, such as printmaking and bookmaking. But I don’t have the degree or experience required for a lot of career paths, so my actual job options are limited.

Slow and steady wins the race. Which artists have you found influenced you most?

Classically speaking, I’m a big fan of Jacque Louis David and Caravaggio; there’s a weight and form in their paintings I’ve always wished I could capture. In reality my work tends more towards online comic artists: Scuttlebuttin, Mieran, and HyperVigil, to name a few.

I know you did a stint in the webcomics world for a “Vendetta’s Rise” webcomic. Did you learn anything from that experience?

Quite a bit, both from figuring it myself and from my project mentor at school. Everything from angles to shot distance to gutter spacing to mood coloring. Even though it's a lot to remember while working on a piece, I've improved because of it.

That’s a lot of improvement! Have you thought about returning to the world of webcomics for your own story or continuing “Vendetta’s Rise”?

I have! Every so often I look at the last sketched page and think about finishing it. Now that things are busier I don't know when that will happen. :( As for my own story, I vastly prefer writing it down or illustrating single moments to trying to tell it through comic pages.

You’ve done some freelance editing work for “Blood and Bounty” as well. Do you prefer art over literature?

It depends. I love drawing and have been lucky to have so much time for it this past year, but I'm definitely better at writing. It's a faster process when you're trying to tell a story with depth and characters to write, but there are certain visuals that words can never accurately convey, as all readers will visualize things a bit differently.

Hm, good answer. On the subject of your writing. Do you have any favorite authors or influences?

Oh definitely - in fact, it was Christopher Paolini and his Inheritance cycle that got me drawing hardcore. I started drawing dragons, and every technique and skill I picked up between the ages of 8 and 18 was to make my dragon drawings better. I'm also a big fan of Brent Weeks, Tyler Whitesides, Robert Ludlum, and Brian Jacques.

I recall we formally met when you read “Vendetta’s Rise” earlier draft and posted a review on my Deviant Art profile, you mentioned a Brent Week influence, and from there I knew we’d be friends. 

I also heard you met some of those authors! Any awesome stories to share?

I did! It’s one of my goals to eventually get my favorite books signed in person so I’m always on the lookout for author events. I don’t know about awesome, but when I met Paolini, I drove seven hours to Montana from Idaho for the event and pretty much started crying when I laid eyes on him. He’s not my top favorite anymore (sorry Chris) but at the time, freshly out of high school, it was a dream come true. I gave him a dragon drawing and he posted it on Twitter, so that was fun.

Seven hours! Now that’s dedication! I would have had the same reaction to meet Brent Weeks. I have a chibi figure of him in my bookcase. 

So any future plans you’d like to let us know about?

Let’s hope that reaction gets to happen in person someday! You need a photo with him for your shrine.

Art-wise, nothing professionally yet. I’ll finish up this internship at the end of summer and add the experience to my resume, but a full career in art may not be the right thing for me. I’m actually looking to go back to school eventually for a master’s in English or communications, see if I can’t get into the editing business officially. And in the meantime, I’ll keep making my silly scribbles and rewriting my book.

Any pearls of wisdom for those looking to get into art or literature as a possible career?

Do it a lot. If it’s art, constantly be drawing. Writing, keep a thoughts journal. Quantity will improve your skill much faster than trying to pin down quality. And most of all, study. Study the artworks of artists you admire and figure out why you admire them. Study the work of artists you hate for the same reasons. Read books of every genre, then reread them to look for literary techniques, and figure out what made the story successful.

Well, thank you for an epic ride! Is there anywhere we can follow your art work?

Thanks for having me! You can find my online portfolio at steamega.wordpress.com, or follow my Instagram and Twitter @NutmegPirate for a less formal experience.