Check Out Erin McDonald’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin McDonald.

Hi Erin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Art and creating have always been a huge part of my story. Creativity helped me find myself and led me to where I am and who I am today.

Growing up I was quiet, introverted, and shy. I didn’t have many friends and I used art to pass the time. I started drawing at a young age and was always looking for ways to be creative. I took an interest in painting in high school & became a painting machine. I used cheap craft acrylics and made portrait after portrait. I painted on cardboard. It was cheap and convenient. I found reassurance in my skills as I started receiving painting requests & commissioned pieces. This is when I had my epiphany; I wanted to inspire others with creativity.

I studied fine arts at Western Michigan University and received my bachelor of fine arts in Art Education. I dipped my toes into many different art forms while attending school: sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography, screen-printing, etc. Painting & photography were the two that spoke to my creative spirit the most. I have created many paintings, both commissioned and personal. Painting will always be a huge part of my identity.

Now, I am stepping into a new business endeavor, photography, I have taken photography courses, I have taught photography courses to my high school students, and I have taken photographs for family and friends. Now, I am following this new path. I am excited to see where it takes me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, I have definitely had challenges along the way. I have always enjoyed creating for others & making others happy with the work that I produce. There is nothing better than knowing that your creativity, skill, and hard work bring sincere happiness to someone’s life. However, it is extremely difficult for me to put myself out there. My biggest challenge has always been with my confidence & anxiety. I have struggled for most of my life with putting myself down and with negative self-talk. Constantly telling myself I am not capable and I would be wasting my time. I have driven myself crazy with thoughts of, “what if they don’t like it?”, “I am not good enough” and “there are too many other photographers better than me”. I am finally at a place in my life where I can brush all of those negative feelings aside. I was born a creator, I am ready to fully embrace it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an art educator (6-12) for an online charter school. I am a painter. I am a photographer.

Photography is my latest business endeavor. I am taking the leap & putting myself out there. I want to show my photography students that it is okay to take risks and indulge in your passions.

Currently, I am categorizing my work as a lifestyle/family photographer. I would say that I am most proud of the newborn photographs that I took of my daughter. When I look at those images, I travel back in time to that day. I return to those first rough postpartum days. When I look at those images, I am overcome with emotion and that is what I aim to do with all of the photographs I take.

I will ALWAYS put love, heart, and soul into my work. I am dedicated to my art. As an educator, I always tell my students that EVERYONE is unique, we are all different and that is what makes humanity so beautiful. I am dedicated to capturing the beauty behind every single individual behind my lens.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I entered a local painting contest in my town back in 2019. We were given one 12×16 canvas to create any style of painting that we wanted. I procrastinated until the day before the submission deadline to create this painting. I was in a creative rut and changed my painting three times. After hours in, I turned on some music, cracked an adult beverage and found my vibe for this canvas. I worked late into the night. I was so nervous the next morning when it came time to submit my painting. Clearly, this was a contest and my work would be judged and that felt scary.

My painting was put on display along with about 25 others for several weeks downtown to be voted on by the public. My work was selected to be one of the ten finalists whose work was then enlarged & reproduced on metal. At the Art Walk event unveiling of each, mine was awarded as “People’s Choice”. I was shocked & delighted that my work and my creativity were loved by so many. My painting is still displayed today in downtown Howell and I drive/walk by it several times per week.

Pricing:

• Newborn $250
• Family/Milestones $200
• Maternity $200
• Engagement/Couples $200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://erinvivianphotos.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Erinvivianphotos/?fbclid=IwAR1yeIYpiCehpqN6yn4aGsbpQEP2yAfeStqjlv9D1zW57mUE26W8Uj7AyBE
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinvivianphotos

Image Credits
Erin Vivian Photos