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About Magan

Baltimore City
A self-taught artist, Magan has been a long time resident of Baltimore City, Maryland, where she spent over 15 years with the Children’s Museum in Baltimore. She re-directed her path to become a certified master naturalist, professional artist, and informal educator. With a diverse interest in subject matter, Magan hopes to evoke connections from the human-created world to the world living and breathing all around us. She highlights her travels, her love of the natural world, and folk… more
View Magan's Resume
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American Landscapes

Bitter cold winters. Lush mountains. Bright deserts. These are the images of my travels across America. 
  • Stony Run, Frozen #1
    Stony Run, Frozen #1
    Completed while on residency at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, this landscape depicts the under appreciated urban winter landscape of our Baltimore City tributaries.
  • Five More Minutes Down 220
    Five More Minutes Down 220
    9"x11" oil pastel on paper The Dan's Mountain valley, Rawlings, Maryland, looking into West Virginia. The place where my husband is from.
  • Canaan Valley Sunset
    Canaan Valley Sunset
    Sunset over the Canaan Valley, near Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia. 4"x12" Acrylic on canvas 2019
  • Dolly Sods Cotton Grass
    Dolly Sods Cotton Grass
    A recent hiking trip to Dolly Sods Wilderness this fall produced amazing landscapes. This one of a cotton grass amongst a field of boulders was one of them. 11"x14" Acrylic on canvas 2019
  • The Blue Mesa
    The Blue Mesa
    Based on my camping trip to Petrified Forest National Park. 24"x24" Acrylic on canvas 2019
  • Great Sand Dunes in the Rain
    Great Sand Dunes in the Rain
    Based on my camping trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was cold, raining, and marvelous. 20"x24" Acrylic on canvas.
  • Natural Bridge in Winter
    Natural Bridge in Winter
    18"x18" Acrylic on Canvas 2018 View of Natural Bridge, Virginia on New Years Day 2018
  • The Frozen Stream
    The Frozen Stream
    40"x30" Acrylic on Recycled Canvas 2018 Winter View of Raphine, Virginia Ranch Land
  • Tidal Cave at Waianapanapa.jpg
    Tidal Cave at Waianapanapa.jpg
    A glimpse into a tidal cave created by lava at Waianapanapa State Park, Maui. 30"x40" Acrylic on canvas 2019
  • Sunset at 10,000 Feet
    Sunset at 10,000 Feet
    16"x40" Acrylic on Canvas 2018 View from Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii
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    • Lazy Whale Mural

    A commission to design and execute a pattern based mural for a private vacation home in Ocean City, MD.  Based on tradional quilt patterns: descending mountains and north star. 

    October 2018
    • Completed Lazy Whale Mural
      Completed Lazy Whale Mural
      Descending mountains and north star. 8'x11' Latex on Oak Wainscoting 2018
    • Lazy Whale Mural Detail
      Lazy Whale Mural Detail
      Detail of mural in-progress.
    • Lazy Whale Mural: Detail
      Lazy Whale Mural: Detail
      Descending mountains and north star. 8'x11' Latex on Oak Wainscoting 2018
    • Lazy Whale Mural: Drawing
      Lazy Whale Mural: Drawing
      Descending mountains and north star. 8'x11' Latex on Oak Wainscoting 2018
    • Lazy Whale Mural: Early Progress
      Lazy Whale Mural: Early Progress
      Descending mountains and north star. 8'x11' Latex on Oak Wainscoting 2018
    • Lazy Whale Mural: Sketch
      Lazy Whale Mural: Sketch
      Preliminary sketch of the Lazy Whale mural. Gouache on paper.
    •

    • Folk Art Steps

    A commission to create and execute a folk art mural on the steps of a private residence in Charles Village, Baltimore, MD. 

    Completed in spring 2018. 



    • Completed Lower Folk Art Steps
      Completed Lower Folk Art Steps
      Completed section of the upper set of steps. A collaborative effort between the home owners and myself, the design was created to reflect the previous designs painted on the upper molding of the home. Latex on Concrete.
    • Completed Upper Folk Art Steps
      Completed Upper Folk Art Steps
      Completed section of the upper set of steps. A collaborative effort between the home owners and myself, the design was created to reflect the previous designs painted on the upper molding of the home. Latex on Concrete.
    • Folk Art Steps Upper Detail
      Folk Art Steps Upper Detail
      Detail of the upper set of steps. A collaborative effort between the home owners and myself, the design was created to reflect the previous designs painted on the upper molding of the home. Latex on Concrete.
    • Lower Folk Art Steps Detail
      Lower Folk Art Steps Detail
      Detail of the lower set of steps. A collaborative effort between the home owners and myself, the design was created to reflect the previous designs painted on the upper molding of the home. Latex on Concrete.
    • Upper Steps: Sketch
      Upper Steps: Sketch
      Preliminary drawings of the upper set of steps of the house. A collaborative effort between the home owners and myself, the design was created to reflect the previous designs painted on the upper molding of the home. Prisma color on velum.
    • Lower Steps: Sketch
      Lower Steps: Sketch
      Preliminary drawings of the lower set of steps of the house. A collaborative effort between the home owners and myself, the design was created to reflect the previous designs painted on the upper molding of the home. Prisma color on velum.
    • Folk Art Steps: Before
      Folk Art Steps: Before
      Before picture of both sets of steps.
    •

    • Border Crossings

    Work as a naturalist, educator, and artist, collide to create a collection that show human patterns, borrowed from the environment, creating unatural boundaries where there should be none. I believe that patterns are a thing that bind us together. They follow us across continents, weaving themselves into our culture to tell our stories. Patterns are way to remind us to reconnect to nature and reiterate that we are one race - human. 
    • Missing Mexico in Quarantine
      Missing Mexico in Quarantine
      16" round acrylic on canvas; 2021; Based on traditional patterns: 'sunshine & shadow' and 'ocean waves' variations Selected for display by Maryland Art Place and sold at Under $500
    • American Love Story
      American Love Story
      Painted as a commission for friends who, to me, represent a perfect vision of our country. A black man whose family roots lie in North Carolina slavery and an Indian woman who is the daughter of immigrants. They are now a corporate lawyer and director the New Jersey Transit System, respectively, and raising their son in their 1920's New Jersey home. 48"x60" Acrylic, charcoal, aerosol, with hand-cut stencils on canvas.
    • Monstera in Hana
      Monstera in Hana
      8"x8" acrylic on wood panel Based on my time in Maui, Hawai'i and native Kapa patterns. Two patterns are represented: the interlocking triangles symbolizing the connection of our worlds culture and peoples and Kanaka which represent family.
    • Sunset on the 4th in Maui
      Sunset on the 4th in Maui
      8"x10" acrylic on wood panel This consists of three Kapa patterns from native Hawai'i. Mauna - honoring Hawaiis mountains. Niho Ku - representing the jagged lava rock coastlines. And Kaimana - mimicking the Hawaiian night skies. A landscape painting of Baldwin Beach, Maui rests in the center. A place were many locals spend their days surfing and relaxing in the Pacific Island sun.
    • View from Upcountry, Maui
      View from Upcountry, Maui
      The view from of the center of Maui where one can see the waters almost meet. The kapa patterns are native to Hawai'i and represent the path of the warrior, family, and the sharing of cultures. 20"x20" Acrylic on canvas 2019
    • It All Began With Chicory
      It All Began With Chicory
      16" x 20" Acrylic, Charcoal, and Spray Paint on Board with Original Stenciling
    • Border Crossing #2
      Border Crossing #2
      12" x 12" Acrylic, Charcoal, and Spray Paint on Board with Original Stencils
    • Pipeline
      Pipeline
      12" x 12" Acrylic, Charcoal, and Spray Paint on Birch Bark with Original Stencil
    • Birds in the Air
      Birds in the Air
      5" x 7" Watercolor on Cold Press Paper
    • Migration
      Migration
      10" x 20" Acrylic, Charcoal, and Spray Paint on Canvas with Original Stencil
    •

    • Abstract/Naturally

    As a naturalist, the smallest elements in nature focus sharply, while backdrops blur and become a nest of feeling. The hoof of a deer, the twirl of a vine, these are the things that stay with me. By sharply seperating these details from their greater canvas, I hope to remind the audience that the smallest moments are sometimes the most memorable. 
    • Mangrove Seedlings
      Mangrove Seedlings
      4"x6" Gouache & Graphite on Cold Press Paper
    • One Mangrove
      One Mangrove
      4"x6" Gouache & Graphite on Cold Press Paper
    • Sea Rocket on Empty Beach.jpg
      Sea Rocket on Empty Beach.jpg
      6"x8" Gouache and Pencil on Cold Pressed Paper 2018
    • Trumpet Honeysuckle in Fall.jpg
      Trumpet Honeysuckle in Fall.jpg
      6"x6" Gouache and Pencil on Cold Pressed Paper 2017
    • Americn Beach Grass.jpg
      Americn Beach Grass.jpg
      5"x2" Gouache and Pencil on Cold Pressed Paper 2017
    • Crows in the Cornfield
      Crows in the Cornfield
      4"x 6" Gouache & Graphite on Cold Press Paper
    • Key Deer at the Big Pine Cabin
      Key Deer at the Big Pine Cabin
      4"x 6" Gouache & Graphite on Cold Press Paper
    • Big Pine Key Watering Hole
      Big Pine Key Watering Hole
      4"x6" Gouache & Graphite on Cold Press Paper
    • Key Deer Swimming
      Key Deer Swimming
      4"x6" Gouache & Graphite on Cold Press Paper
    •

    • Landscape-A-Day: A Covid-19 Project

    When Covid-19 began hitting the U.S., I was feeling unraveled. The promising spring was becoming a series of cancelations, disappointments, and with it a bout of depression. I needed structure, something to get me out of bed, so I started this project of creating a small landscape each day and selling them for $25 each. They consist of places I've been with those I love or of abstract memories. They brought me comfort and allowed others to bring art into their home during financial uncertainty.
    • Maui
      Maui
      4"x6" oil pastel on light blue pastel paper
    • Ocean City, Sunrise
      Ocean City, Sunrise
      6"x4" oil pastel on paper
    • Artscape Was Canceled Today
      Artscape Was Canceled Today
      3"x5" oil pastel and pencil on Arches paper
    • Sunrise From the Moorish Tower, May 15th
      Sunrise From the Moorish Tower, May 15th
      3"x5" oil pastel on Arches paper, plein air
    • Last Sunset on Little Corn Island
      Last Sunset on Little Corn Island
      5"x3" oil pastel on Arches paper
    • Remington, Looking West
      Remington, Looking West
      3"x5" oil pastel and charcoal on Arches paper
    • Coffee with a Moray Eel
      Coffee with a Moray Eel
      3"x5" oil pastel on cold press paper
    • Beach Mornings Are My Favorite
      Beach Mornings Are My Favorite
      3"x5" oil pastel on pastel paper
    • Fall in Harper's Ferry
      Fall in Harper's Ferry
      5"x4" oil pastel on Arches paper
    • Lower Antelope Canyon
      Lower Antelope Canyon
      3"x5" oil pastel on pastel paper
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