Nice to Meet You!

Gulls, oil on canvas

My name is Meghan Hjerpe (Hj is pronounced like a Y...... it's Swedish) and I am a junior Art-Education major at Saint Michael's College. I am from Madison, Connecticut, where my love for art began growing up as a painter's daughter...well, house painter anyways.  In our small pocket of shoreline Connecticut, the name Hjerpe and 'painting' go hand in hand.  Although I never inherited the skill to pick up the family business (despite trying for a full summer), I developed a strong passion for artistic painting that I knew I wanted to make a career out of.  It wasn't until I reached Saint Michael's that I realized my love of education in finding that sharing the power of art is one of the most empowering gifts you can give.  I am studying for a K-12 licensure, and I am open to teaching any students within that age range, yet I am most interested in high school level.  My focus is on two-dimensional visual art, such as drawing, painting, and collage, yet, I am learning new mediums in attempts to become a well-rounded educator (currently I am learning pottery wheel skills for the very first time!)

Succulents, oil on canvas

        
In my free time I enjoy gardening; I am a self-proclaimed Crazy Cactus Lady.  I am a skier, making college in Vermont more play than work with many weekends spent at Smuggler's Notch.  Growing up in a beach town, I enjoy spending my summers sitting by the ocean.  Since I can count on my fingers the number of times I have left New England, I like to attempt traveling the world with my cuisine.  I am experimental with international vegetarian foods, as I have a passion for animals and do not like to eat them.