Today we’d like to introduce you to Magda Plagge.
Magda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Ever since I was very young, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I was always creating things likes paintings and sculptures with materials I found around the house. I finished high school having studied three years of arts and humanities. This gave me a good foundation in art and drove my passion for it even more. I was able to participate in several exhibitions in Mexico during those years.
After high school, I went to college to study graphic design. Just six months into that, though, I transferred to a Bible college where I finished three years studying theology. While I was there, I still wanted to be an artist. From time to time, I would walk down to a nearby river to get flat smooth rocks to paint and try to sell them to get a little extra money, or I would give them away as gifts.
When I was 24, I got married and moved to the USA. Learning English and adapting to a new culture was very difficult the first couple years. We lived in different states like Missouri, Arkansas, New York and Texas. God blessed me with two wonderful daughters and an awesome husband that supports me in my passion for painting. As my girls were born, I decided to dedicate myself primarily to raising them and focusing on our home. During that time, I continued creating crafts and did a little bit of painting as time allowed.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2018 when we moved to Frisco, Texas that I began to paint again as a Professional Visual Artist. I was working as an educator with preschool and kindergarten age children before the quarantine happened as a result of COVID-19. Since then, I have taken the time to promote my art more.
I’m a member of the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco (VAGF) and Frisco Arts Association which has given me the opportunity to display my art in different galleries around Frisco; places like City Hall and The Discovery Center.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Things are never easy but I know that God is good and everything helps us for good. I have a particular painting that I titled “Lines of Life”. It was displayed in our signature end-of-year VAGF show “Creme de la Creme” in October 2019, and I received the award for “Art that speaks to me” from the special juror for the show: Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney.
The concept was inspired by the cardiac monitor you see in hospitals and how it relates to real life. We know that the zig zag lines indicate that you are alive, and still have a chance to be the best person God created you to be. There will be peaks and valleys through life, but we can overcome. It’s those lines and stories that can be seen in that piece of art.
In that same piece, I also used primary colors to create a visual harmony; colors that give joy and strength. With primary colors, you can mix them and get a wide range of other colors that will fill your palette with a lot of variety and opportunities to create what you want.
What I want to express with that work is that each person must have their goals and defined convictions, and when your life is based on those convictions nothing will make you give up. You will be strong and you will be able to achieve many things in life. You will have joy even when situations around you do not look so good. In my paint you can see people going up and down. Why? Because this is life. It is not easy, but it is beautiful.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As a contemporary and expressionist artist, I enjoy expressing the beauty of life in all my works. Painting is an art that I especially enjoy doing. In each brush stroke and in each movement of my spatula there is a feeling and a passion. Whether I paint landscapes, music, animals or abstracts, there is a motivation deep in my heart that moves my hand.
I’m currently working on a series of abstract paintings that express a lot of feelings through a palette full of colors. When I mix them, they create a lot of interesting textures and set different types of peaceful moods.
Sometimes I have more explosive moments in my paintings. I’ll utilize scraping or slashing movements that give it a different dynamic. I also have a series of abstract cities where I paint two or three familiar buildings, landmarks, or other famous things from that particular City. I started my series with the first four cities where I have lived, and then extended to other cities and places I would love to visit one day.
I like to paint a variety of themes because to be honest, I get bored painting the same thing over and over again. I’m very spontaneous and creative in that way. If you would like to support my art, you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/magdaplaggeart/ https://www.instagram.com/magdaplagge/
What were you like growing up?
I was always very curious growing up and liked creating things. I was different from a lot of other kids, but I guess that was because of my creative mind. Looking back, though, I believe all things that have happened in my life have served to teach me and grow me for what I am doing now. My past has molded me into who I am today, and the present is continuing to mold me into who I will be in the future.
Pricing:
- Blast of Spring (24 in x 48 in) – $750
- Lines of Life (48 in x 60 in) – $950
- Reflections (24 in x 30 in) – $550
- Transformed (30 in x 40 in) – $750
- Brave (24 in x 36 in) – $695
- The Bridge of Life (36 in x 36 in) – $775
- Liberty (36 in x 36 in) – $775
- New York Fever (48 in x 48 in) – $950
Contact Info:
- Email: magdaplagge@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdaplagge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magdaplaggeart/
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