Meghan Black (Artist & Event Leader)

How long have you been working at FFHA? Almost 2 years. I had an internship with the foundation back in 2016 and came back to work here full time after college.

What do you do at FFHA? My title is Artist and Event Leader, but I do a bit of everything. I design murals, travel to lead painting events, seek out new business, initiate new projects, and I help anywhere else hands are needed. I love when I’m almost never sitting still!

What is your favorite form of creative expression? I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to art. Learning a new skill is one of my favorite pastimes. Once I’ve learned one I’m ready for another. I’ve dabbled in oil painting, watercolor, sculpture, woodworking, macrame, bookmaking, printmaking, the list goes on… Overall, illustration is my favorite form of creative expression, the telling of stories through art.

What is your favorite part of your job? When people realize how much fun they are having painting, especially when they require some convincing having claimed they weren’t “an artist.” Those are the people who are most proud of their painting when they finish.

What is your favorite part of our mission? Seeing the way the facilities are transformed and the way the patients, who are going through their greatest hardships, are encouraged by the colorful and familiar images. Their minds are taken away for a moment, releasing stress and allowing their bodies to heal.

Which of our paint colors are you? Why? I’m either Lemon Chiffon or Fresh Foliage. A soft light and a steady head in any situation.

What type of mural would you like to see added to our collection? I would like to create a mural that tells a story, and the longer you look at it the more is revealed. I love the idea of the added layers so that those who pass it everyday get to notice something new the longer it’s there. The challenge is creating something complex in a more simple “paint-by-color” format that can be painted by anyone.

If you could do anything at all, what would it be? I would travel the world, painting murals for free to brighten communities who need some color and hope.

What is something that you like to do during your time away from the studio? I hike and kayak, hang with friends, family, and my puppy Peach, and I like exploring new places and finding that new life-changing hole-in-the-wall food stop.