Morgan McLaughlin
by Coco Wu
Since joining Collingwood in the 2009–2010 school year, Ms. McLaughlin has been a valued member of the school community. While many may know her for her work as an educator, she is also a passionate artist, working with a variety of mediums to bring her creative ideas to life.
Ms. McLaughlin enjoys painting, often replicating works she admires while incorporating her own creative touch. She also experiments with mixed media, creating faux gardens and wreaths, and has a particular love for bedazzling, frequently adding rhinestones and sparkles to her projects. When asked about her artistic inspiration, she notes that she doesn’t have a specific source but enjoys the works of Erik Abel and Jack Vettriano.
Her creative process is spontaneous. When the urge to make art strikes, she turns to social media for inspiration or takes a trip to a craft or paint store, always leaving with more than she planned for. She values follow-through and prefers to complete a painting in a single sitting, rarely letting projects stretch over multiple days.
Ms. McLaughlin’s art has evolved significantly over time, shifting from abstract blends and fades to more distinct subject matter, such as animals and mountains. Among her proudest works are her recreations of Erik Abel’s pelican and whale paintings, both of which required time and patience to complete to her satisfaction.
To avoid creative burnout, she rotates between different artistic pursuits—when she tires of painting, she switches to bedazzling, jewelry-making, sewing, or crafting T-shirts. This variety keeps her engaged and allows her to explore new creative outlets without feeling stuck.
For those looking to pursue art, Ms. McLaughlin offers a simple but valuable piece of advice: don’t stress about perfection. Echoing the wisdom of Bob Ross, she reminds artists that “happy little mistakes” often make a piece more unique and special. In the end, the supposed “errors” that artists fixate on often go unnoticed by everyone else.
Through her passion for painting, mixed media, and all things creative, Ms. McLaughlin finds joy in the artistic process. Whether she’s working on a detailed painting or adding a bit of sparkle to an everyday object, she embraces creativity in all its forms.
Ms. McLaughlin enjoys painting, often replicating works she admires while incorporating her own creative touch. She also experiments with mixed media, creating faux gardens and wreaths, and has a particular love for bedazzling, frequently adding rhinestones and sparkles to her projects. When asked about her artistic inspiration, she notes that she doesn’t have a specific source but enjoys the works of Erik Abel and Jack Vettriano.
Her creative process is spontaneous. When the urge to make art strikes, she turns to social media for inspiration or takes a trip to a craft or paint store, always leaving with more than she planned for. She values follow-through and prefers to complete a painting in a single sitting, rarely letting projects stretch over multiple days.
Ms. McLaughlin’s art has evolved significantly over time, shifting from abstract blends and fades to more distinct subject matter, such as animals and mountains. Among her proudest works are her recreations of Erik Abel’s pelican and whale paintings, both of which required time and patience to complete to her satisfaction.
To avoid creative burnout, she rotates between different artistic pursuits—when she tires of painting, she switches to bedazzling, jewelry-making, sewing, or crafting T-shirts. This variety keeps her engaged and allows her to explore new creative outlets without feeling stuck.
For those looking to pursue art, Ms. McLaughlin offers a simple but valuable piece of advice: don’t stress about perfection. Echoing the wisdom of Bob Ross, she reminds artists that “happy little mistakes” often make a piece more unique and special. In the end, the supposed “errors” that artists fixate on often go unnoticed by everyone else.
Through her passion for painting, mixed media, and all things creative, Ms. McLaughlin finds joy in the artistic process. Whether she’s working on a detailed painting or adding a bit of sparkle to an everyday object, she embraces creativity in all its forms.
