Meaghan Troup
Meaghan Troup’s artistic journey is one of resilience, passion, and deep emotional connection. Growing up in a home that valued creativity, she and her sisters were encouraged to explore literature, art, and imagination. Their mother, an avid reader and writer, fostered this environment by reading to them regularly and enforcing a no-television-on-school-nights rule, which, though frustrating at the time, cultivated a love for storytelling and creativity.
Meaghan has been creating art for as long as she can remember, but her focus on it intensified when she was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 13. The illness forced her to step away from competitive sports and many other extracurricular activities, but art became her escape. Whether in the hospital or infusion rooms, she carried art materials with her, using them to process emotions, find solace, and navigate a challenging reality. This formative experience shaped her artistic identity and fueled her belief in art as a healing force.
She pursued formal education in art, earning a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from Roberts Wesleyan College, followed by a Certification in Art in Health from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Her education refined her technical skills, exposed her to new mediums, and deepened her understanding of art history, color theory, and design. However, the most defining moment of her artistic training came when a professor took away her brushes and challenged her to paint exclusively with a palette knife. This experiment led her to develop her signature impasto technique, where rich hues and thick textures bring depth and vibrancy to her work.
While Meaghan has worked in multiple mediums—acrylic, oils, charcoal, pastels, and photography—she has primarily focused on oil painting, particularly nature-inspired themes. Her paintings are infused with personal meaning, often featuring two recurring motifs: trees and wildflowers.
Trees symbolize strength, endurance, and a peaceful refuge—her personal sanctuary during difficult times. The simple act of lying beneath a tree and looking up became a grounding exercise that helped her cope with chemotherapy. Wildflowers, often dismissed as weeds, represent resilience, beauty in adversity, and the ability to flourish despite challenges. Their tenacity mirrors her own journey of overcoming illness and finding purpose through creativity.
Her work is deeply rooted in joy, hope, and healing, and she hopes to remind people that beauty exists all around us, even in the darkest moments.
Meaghan draws inspiration from Claude Monet, admiring his tenacity and the way he continued painting even as he lost his vision. Like Monet, she believes in persistence, especially when facing setbacks. She describes her work as Contemporary Impressionism, embracing light, texture, and bold color.
She also finds inspiration in literature, particularly the Bronte sisters, whose works embody both the deep sorrows and immense joys of life. Their ability to contrast darkness with radiance resonates with her approach to art. Music is another key influence, shaping her creative process and infusing her work with emotion.
Before painting, Meaghan engages in a ritual that sets the tone for her creativity—lighting candles, playing music, and saying a short prayer. Since she works full-time as a Marketing Director and is a mother of two, her painting sessions usually begin after her children are asleep. She dedicates late nights to her craft, painting for two to three hours before resting and restarting her day at six in the morning.
Her work-life balance requires careful scheduling, open communication with her husband, and a deep commitment to both her family and artistic practice. While she doesn’t paint every night, she sets aside dedicated time each week for either creating art or handling the business side of her career.
One of Meaghan’s most challenging and rewarding projects was a large-scale commissioned painting for the CARE Center at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The facility focuses on hope and healing for cancer patients and their families, making the project deeply personal. Creating the piece brought back memories of her own battle with leukemia but reinforced her belief in the healing power of art. She remains involved in making the medical center a more restorative space through art and often hears from visitors who find peace and comfort in her work.
Success, for Meaghan, is not just about selling paintings or gaining recognition—it is about fulfillment and impact. She measures her success through the emotions her work evokes in others. Whether someone stops and says “wow” while viewing her painting or finds solace in its colors and textures, those moments affirm her purpose as an artist.
Looking forward, she aspires to expand her artistic approach, experimenting with mixed media, gold leafing, and encaustics. While she has built a strong identity as an oil painter, she is eager to push creative boundaries and explore new textures and materials. She is also interested in creating more defined series and deepening her wildflower and tree themes.
One of the most profound influences on Meaghan’s journey was her friendship with Katie, a fellow cancer patient she met in her late teens. The two bonded over art, salt-and-vinegar chips, and shared experiences of chemotherapy. While Katie ultimately lost her battle with leukemia, Meaghan carries forward the lessons she learned from their friendship—the importance of empathy, connection, and using art to help others heal.
She encourages emerging artists to embrace their individuality and not conform to external pressures. She believes that being true to oneself is the only way to create meaningful art. She also emphasizes that life’s tragedies can shape artists in profound ways. Rather than shutting out painful experiences, she believes in finding strength and beauty in them—a philosophy that resonates throughout her work.
Currently, Meaghan is working on private commissions while exploring mixed media techniques to enrich her impasto oil paintings. She is also refining her wildflower and tree series, staying true to her themes of resilience, healing, and joy.
For those who follow her work, she leaves an inspiring message: Even the darkest circumstances cannot rob you of joy. In fact, joy manifests most resolutely in difficulties. Flowers grow in the valley, and God is holding a watering can. Trust the process.
As she continues to evolve as an artist, Meaghan remains dedicated to creating vibrant, textured, and emotionally resonant pieces that remind viewers of the beauty that surrounds them—no matter their circumstances.
