Megan Roy Finds Beauty in the Unpolished
Los Angeles, CA artist on texture, curiosity, and why mistakes are part of the process
Ask Megan Roy to describe her art in one word, and she doesn’t reach for anything polished or precise. She reaches for “textural.” It’s the thread that runs through everything the Los Angeles-based artist makes — a handmade, collected quality that feels made by hand even when it starts on a screen.
Megan works across illustration and pattern, and refuses to pick a permanent favorite. “It’s a toss-up between illustration and patterns depending on the day,” she says. “Illustration is the most expressive, which allows me to add tons of personality and detail. But I like the challenge of creating a pattern — there’s something really satisfying about fitting the puzzle pieces together successfully.”
Where Texture Leads
Every new collection starts the same loose way for Megan: not with a mood board, but with a feeling. “I think about what has seemed interesting or exciting to me lately, whether it’s a color, texture, object, or just a feeling,” she says. “I try to trust my instincts and go where my curiosity and imagination leads me.”
That instinct almost always leads back to the same place. “Texture has kind of become the home base for everything I create,” she explains. “I think it adds character and interest. Those little details find their way into almost every piece I make and give my digital work that handmade, collected feel.”
Learning by Doing
The moment Megan first held her licensed art in her hands, rather than seeing it on a screen, stuck with her. “How different it feels,” is how she sums up the surprise. That hands-on reality has shaped how she thinks about advice for artists just starting to license their work — and it isn’t about getting it right the first time.
“You learn by making mistakes,” she says. “Just jump in and see what happens. I think a lot of people get paralyzed by indecision and fear due to inexperience, but if it doesn’t work out, at least you know what not to do next time. Mistakes are a necessary part of growth.”
She draws a clear line between her personal fine art and her licensing work. “For licensing, I believe in creating a LOT and staying open,” she says. “A larger body of work helps you discover what resonates with audiences and gives brands more opportunities to find the right fit. Fine art is a slower, more intentional process, while licensing is about exploration and versatility.”
What’s Next, and What’s Over
Megan’s approach to trends is less about chasing and more about overlap. “I try to only follow trends that feel genuinely exciting to me,” she says. “That’s where the Venn diagram of ‘trends’ and ‘personal style’ overlaps, and I think it’s the best place to live.”
Her forecast: a swing back toward the handmade. “I’m always drawn to things that feel organic rather than perfectly polished, so I think we’ll keep seeing more handmade-inspired motifs, layered textures, and nostalgic color palettes with a modern twist,” she says. “Things that challenge the AI boom and remind us what we can make with our own two hands.” As for what’s on its way out — the ultra-minimal look. “Brands and consumers are looking for artwork with personality, layered textures, bold color, and playful details,” she says. “Neutrals are out, controlled chaos is in!”
Behind the Scenes
Megan’s studio runs on coffee, true crime, and order. “Coffee always. And a good true crime podcast,” she says of her workday soundtrack — all set against a workspace she keeps deliberately clean. “Tidy and bright. I can’t concentrate in a messy space!”
The skill she credits most for sharpening her art didn’t come from an art class at all: “Curiosity. I think the best ideas come from having interests outside of art and noticing the connections between things that don’t obviously belong together,” she says. “Everything becomes inspiration when you’re willing to learn, explore, and observe.”
Fittingly for an artist obsessed with animal behavior as a might-have-been career, and pet products as a someday dream, Megan’s own studio companion makes more than a few appearances in her process. It’s a fitting reminder that for Megan, the most interesting ideas rarely come from staying in a lane — they come from staying curious.
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