Today we’d like to introduce you to Cici McMonigle.
Hi Cici, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve painted all throughout my life. It was always something I really enjoyed and wanted to do regardless of whether or not it became a full-time career, so I feel really lucky that I’ve been able to make it my job. I used to come home from work just to paint late into the night with no goals of selling work or exhibiting anywhere. I just did it for the love of the game.
I went to Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland for visual arts in high school, then to Parsons School of Design for fine arts, where I eventually dropped out because I wasn’t sure if it was what I wanted to pursue, or if I even needed a degree to be an artist. I wanted to explore other things. After dropping out, I worked a lot of different jobs while continuing to paint in my free time.
After a while, I went to Polk State College to study psychology because I had always been really interested in art psychology and art therapy, and thought maybe I could incorporate that into the arts somehow. Eventually I started feeling really stuck, so I decided to just jump the gun and move to Miami where my friends were.
I lived in a friend’s friend’s mom’s extra bedroom while renting a studio at Laundromat Art Space, originally planning to stay for only two months to paint and figure out what I wanted to do. During that time, I worked at KDR Gallery to learn more about the art world while also making money for rent and materials.
At the time, my best friend and I shared a studio. She had a studio visit with Bonnie Clearwater from NSU Museum of Art while I was at work, and Bonnie ended up seeing my paintings during the visit and became interested in giving me a solo show. It was a really exciting and surreal opportunity for me, and I decided to stay in Miami because of it.
Through my show with Bonnie at NSU, I was able to make art my full-time job and really thrive. Bonnie has done so much for artists, and I owe a lot to her. It was also an amazing experience working with Katia through KDR, she taught me so much. I eventually moved into Bakehouse Art Complex, where I completed most of the work I’ve shown throughout my short time working as a full-time artist haha.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It wasn’t smooth, but looking back, trusting my gut was one of the most important things I ever did. Even through the rough times, I felt deep down that everything would work out, and whats meant to be will be, and that belief kept me going. Moving to Miami at 23 was the first time I was truly on my own, taking care of myself, making friends, and figuring out who I was. I felt lonely a lot, even with supportive friends, because at the end of the day you still have to face your own problems and emotions alone.
One of my biggest struggles was networking. I’m naturally shy and introverted, and even after great nights meeting amazing people, I’d sometimes cry on the drive home because socializing drained me so much. It took a while to grow out of that anxiety. I also struggled with balancing my creative goals while trying to survive financially. Investing in my first solo museum show was terrifying, I took time off work, lived off savings, dealt with my car constantly breaking down, and questioned everything. I barely slept for months. Looking back, I should’ve been more worried about my melatonin intake than the show itself.
But without those experiences, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I think the hardest part of being in a creative field is getting stuck in your own head. Everything else is temporary. There’s this quote from someone: “if it doesn’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter now.” and I try to stick by that when new problems arise. haha.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My mom is Chinese and my dad is from the U.S. I was born in China and lived there until I was 14, when we moved to Florida. My mom is an artist who ended up doing very different things professionally, but she still incorporates art into her everyday life. She paints, crafts, sews, there’s honestly nothing she can’t do. A lot of my inspiration comes from her. She’s always recommending different Chinese media, art, and symbolism for me to look into and incorporate into my paintings.
Aside from that, I’ve always loved painting animals and cowboys. Growing up, I always saw my dad’s side of the family as cowboys in a way. They fish, hunt, wear cowboy boots, shoot guns, and have southern accents. When we visited the U.S. while I was younger, we’d stay with my Mamaw and Papaw, who lived on this beautiful property in the mountains and had a horse. I think I like holding onto that childlike wonder a little bit, and I still view my dad and the U.S. through this simple “cowboy culture” lens, even though obviously it’s much more complex than that.
I like combining those memories and influences with traditional Chinese patterns and symbolism as a way of expressing who I am, even if a lot of it happens subconsciously. At the end of the day, I just make fun acrylic paintings that I like. I’m really proud that my work makes my friends and family proud too. I don’t think my parents ever expected me to end up painting full time haha.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Maybe that I’m really into special effects makeup and props haha. I love fake food, silicone props, animatronics, practical effects, things like that. At one point I actually considered becoming a special effects makeup artist, but I never fully explored it. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything too shocking about me. I’m a pretty open book.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cicimcm.com
- Instagram: cici_mcm
