A Late Arrival to Painting, A Deep Connection to Art
MGP Andersen’s artistic journey did not begin with formal training in childhood or a traditional art school background. Instead, her path to painting was shaped by a deep engagement with literature, education, and personal experiences that left lasting imprints on her creative process. Based in San Francisco, she holds degrees in English and Liberal Arts, and for years, she taught art history and art appreciation at a local college. Immersing herself in the works of countless artists over time sharpened her understanding of art and refined her practice, even though she is largely self-taught.
Her life has been marked by both instability and resilience. An unsettled childhood and a battle with cancer during her college years gave her a keen awareness of pain, uncertainty, and the fragility of existence—elements that inevitably surface in her work. Beyond her personal history, she is deeply affected by the way people treat one another, often with cruelty or indifference, and how little they seem to understand themselves. But even in the face of darkness, she finds reasons to celebrate life. Painting, for her, is a way to process these complexities, a means of navigating the contradictions of human experience and making sense of emotions that words cannot fully capture.
MGP Andersen: Discovering the Transformative Power of Painting
Her introduction to painting was almost accidental, sparked by a single class that changed everything. When her younger son started school, she enrolled in a Descriptive Drawing course without any expectation of where it might lead. That first session—a quiet, meditative study of bottles, cups, and curtains—had a surprising effect. After three hours of focused observation and careful rendering, she walked away feeling more energized than when she arrived. That realization set something in motion. One class led to another, and before long, she found herself painting regularly, drawn in by the process and its ability to absorb her completely.
Like many aspiring painters, she initially grappled with self-imposed pressures, trying to emulate the techniques of great masters such as John Singer Sargent. But it was only when she let go of those expectations and allowed herself to approach painting on her own terms that things began to click. She came to understand that each painting is a sequence of decisions, with every brushstroke building upon the one before. Frustration is an inevitable part of the process, but when everything aligns, it feels like flying. That sense of momentum and discovery keeps her coming back to the canvas, eager to see where the next piece will take her.
Layers of Meaning: A Style Rooted in Emotion and Memory
Andersen’s work is best described as loosely figurative, balancing between representation and abstraction. She does not aim for precise realism but rather seeks to give form to emotions, bringing attention to the complexities of human existence. Women and children frequently appear in her compositions, reflecting her deep concern for vulnerability, identity, and the passage of time. Her paintings often begin with black-and-white photographs—fragments of the past that she transforms through layers of color and texture, allowing the image to evolve until its meaning becomes clear.
Her approach is intuitive, and at times, she wrestles with the canvas, pushing herself to find new solutions when a piece feels stuck. Overworking a painting is always a risk, but frustration can also be a catalyst for innovation, leading her to experiment in ways she might not have otherwise considered. Color plays a crucial role in her work, which is why natural light is an essential element in her studio. Music provides another layer of atmosphere, helping her maintain focus and block out distractions. However, the greatest challenge she faces isn’t artistic—it’s finding time to paint amid the demands of daily life. Despite this, the pull of the studio remains strong, and she returns to it whenever she can, ready to explore the next idea.
MGP Andersen: Finding Meaning in the Unexpected
Certain paintings hold special significance for Andersen, not only because of their technical challenges but because of the unexpected revelations they bring. One such piece, Advice, proved particularly difficult until a new figure emerged—a face on the right side of the composition that she had not initially planned. This presence, which she came to see as God offering guidance to a lost soul, shifted the entire meaning of the work. The idea that the universe might always be at our side, quietly offering wisdom, resonated deeply. Even more intriguing, a viewer later pointed out the number “1” embedded in God’s throat—something Andersen had not consciously included. This unintentional detail only reinforced her belief that painting is an unpredictable and mysterious journey.
Her love for oil paint was immediate, and she remains committed to exploring its possibilities. While she has experimented with other mediums, she continues to return to oil for its depth, richness, and ability to convey emotion through texture and color. Looking ahead, she envisions a large-scale work inspired by Gauguin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?—a meditation on the arc of life from birth to death. Alternatively, if space constraints make such a project impractical, she considers a series that explores growing up and growing old, capturing the transformations and struggles that define the human experience.
Beyond the canvas, she is passionate about making art accessible to those who may never step inside a gallery. One of her dreams is to display her work in storefronts and public spaces, accompanied by thought-provoking questions that invite people to pause and reflect. Art, she believes, has the power to disrupt routine, spark curiosity, and offer moments of contemplation in the midst of everyday life. Her paintings, often unconventional and evocative, might just be enough to make someone stop, look, and wonder—if only for a moment.
