How I Became an Artist: A Journey

On the auspicious day of 7.7.77, I was born into a loving family in the Heartland. Blessed with a sense of magic early on, I made art since I could hold a crayon.

A taste for adventure called me to Europe as a teen, and I drank up the culture. In America, I followed music and my bliss around the lower 48 states. A bohemian need for freedom became a major inspiration.

prada, madrid, spain, travel, adventure — *at Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, 1994*

Following my dreams of enchanted forests to the West Coast, I graduated from Evergreen State College in 2001 with my BA in Interdisciplinary Art.

i went to school in olympia, courtney love, nirvana, evergreen, washington state — *Olympia, WA, 2001*

Soon after, I left my town, boyfriend, business, and friends. I was searching, but for what? I moved to a yoga retreat center in the middle of the desert an hour outside of San Diego. My version of 40 days in the desert, but for a whole year. I spent my time meditating, being of service, and reflecting. What’s our true nature? What is true love? How can I be a strong, independent woman? What is my purpose?

*spiritual sabbatical in the desert, 2003*

(Meghan Oona Trivia: during one retreat we had to “find the name of our inner child.” I determined mine was the same name I gave my beloved wolf dog – Oona! – so I went by Oona for the rest of the year, and now use it as my artist name).

On my 27th birthday, still unclear, I cried to my mom on the phone, who always emphasized the importance of art and culture. I decided to go to grad school. Here was the fork in my road. Business School or Art School? I listened deeply to myself, found my inner guru, and I chose Art.

everything comes clear, prada, madrid, spain, travel, adventure, boho artists, boho 90s grunge, grunge 90s girls, grunge artists, boho artists girls, boho art girl — *everything comes clear*

I never wanted to be an artist. I already WAS an artist, and embracing it allowed me to fully accept myself. It was a journey to get there, but I came full circle. I was there all along.

sf, golden gate bridge, sfai — *the golden gate*

Within 3 months I enrolled at the oldest art school in the country — The San Francisco Art Institute. I wanted to unpack everything I’d learned in the desert and share it with the world. I earned my MFA in 2007 and became a professional artist.

meghan oona clifford art shows — *in the studio and at shows*

Becoming an artist allowed me to finally focus on sharing my vision, to honor those moments of inspired awareness, and to celebrate deep belief in humanity’s potential for enlightenment.