Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Scannell.
Molly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was heavily influenced by the community I grew up in. Which was a small Finnish community called Lanesville. I was surrounded by painters, writers, sculptors, bellydancers and the famous folly cove printers. My mother is an incredible draftswoman, her father an architect and her mother had a keen eye for design. My aunt is also a painter. It’s funny, I don’t think I have ever called myself and artist with exception to the past few years. But I suppose, it started at a very early age.
Within the last 5 years, I have come full circle to exploring mediums and feeling less restrained in my process. I think my kids have really allowed me to experience that again. The ability to have little to no inhibitions. It is that freedom though, that has allowed me to be passionate about making art again. There are no rules unless I am making art for a specific project, which still feels rather dreamy.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is a constant journey of evolution. If it remained a consistent smoothly paved road, would it be worth it or remotely interesting in any capacity? Hell, no! Making art has been an escape, a meditative process doing things I like doing. I wanted to challenge myself outside of the advertising life I was living (which was about company politics more than anything at the end of the day) and not conform to anything. I wanted to fail in capacities that allowed me to learn and grow.
The biggest piece of advice I have for anyone, is always following your passion, do what you love and learn to fail… and fail hard. You learn the most about yourself and the things that surround you in these moments. I like to think for most of my life I have run into my fears with no abandon. Be brave, be bold… be YOU.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about a_collage – what should we know?
First, making is the highlight of my day. I crave it. Something moves me and I follow it, down whatever path it takes me. I specialize in collage, both digital & analog. Though I love drawing as well. I like reinventing the invented if you will. As semi-ridiculous as that sounds. When I’m being introduced to people is how I’d state what I’m most know known for. ‘This is Molly, she just got back from a show in Paris and has done work for Cartier, LaPrarie and just completed doing murals for a hotel.’
I have a gazillion sketchbooks full of analog collages… I have no idea what to do with them actually. When it comes to this idea of a personal brand, I’m not sure how to exactly define that. I have an @a_collage nameplate necklace that I adore! I love fashion and dressing up. But I’d say my brand that most people that know me to associate me with is my insanely curly hair. HAHA! But brand-wise I’d say fashion/typeface oriented diagonally, perhaps, ‘charged’ images.
Whether that sets me apart from other or not I am unsure, and would never give it a second thought. It’s nothing I have ever thought about in the past or am concerned about for my future. I do this because I love what I do and that is all that matters at the end of the day. Proudness that I claim in my work is what I make and that I actually make the time to CREATE. That time actually has its costs but the payoff is seeing my children admire me and want to be like me when they ‘grown up’. We often do art together and talk about art but most importantly, I want to send them a message that you can be whatever YOU want to be. You just have to work hard and really WANT it.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I find so much of my inspiration in printed magazines, Pinterest and the uninhibited minds of my 3 daughters. I’ve also been doing a lot of ‘turn off’ time, aka ignoring my phone. This has allowed me to be the most present in the now, savoring moments and living them as myself to the best of my abilities. I also LOVE to cook and make new simple things in a variety of colors and flavors. I find that hugely gratifying and inspirational.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.a-collage.com
- Phone: 617-359-9855
- Email: collagemolly@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_collage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collagemolly/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mctibbetts
- Other: www.mollyscannell.com
Image Credit:
TOP photo of my hands: Heather McGrath
Meredith Mendosa
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
