In The Atelier, every piece tells a story—but not all at once.
In The Atelier, where material and meaning are in constant dialogue, Peggy Garard of Margaretta Studio offers a study in perception—what we see at first glance, and what reveals itself when we choose to look closer.
Her work lives in that tension.
At a distance, Orchid 2, seen in “The Gallery” vignette, reads as familiar—almost photographic in its realism. A magenta bloom, suspended in a field of black, stripped of its natural environment. There is no stem reaching toward light, no surrounding greenery to contextualize its existence. Instead, the orchid becomes something else entirely: an object, isolated and reconsidered.
It’s a deliberate removal of context—and with it, a quiet question. Without nature to guide us, how do we understand what we’re looking at?
Step closer, and the illusion begins to shift. The precision reveals itself. Colored pencil, carefully layered, replaces what the eye first assumed.
That moment—when perception breaks and rebuilds—is where her work begins.
The second piece, an origami-inspired flower, continues that investigation but moves it into new territory. Here, the medium itself becomes part of the message. Paper, traditionally a surface for language, is reimagined. Instead of holding letters, it is built by them—formed through pen and ink into a structure that feels both delicate and intentional.
Look closely again, and the marks resolve into something recognizable: letters, numbers, punctuation. Language becomes form.
This shift is not just technical—it marks a transition within Margaretta’s practice. Once rooted in traditional colored pencil realism, her work is evolving into something more layered, where typography replaces line, and meaning is embedded directly into the act of making.
That evolution is deeply personal.
Guided by her experience with epilepsy and how she experienced seizures, Margaretta’s transition toward drawing with letters reflects a desire to process and translate what cannot always be easily articulated. The work becomes a lens—offering both a visual experience and a more intimate, internal narrative.
It is here that her interpretation of creating something greater than beauty takes shape.
Not just something to be seen—but something to be considered, questioned, and felt.
There is also a quieter influence woven throughout her work: Indianapolis itself. For Margaretta, the city represents family—home to her husband’s family, marked by warmth, gathering, and a sense of steady support. That grounding presence carries into her process, offering both momentum and meaning behind the scenes.
In The Atelier, her pieces ask something simple, but not easy:
Slow down. Look again. What do you think you see? What is actually there?
Because what first appears as a flower may, in fact, be something far more layered—constructed not just of color or paper, but of language, perception, and lived experience.
Thank you, Peggy, for sharing your inspiring work with JED and our community.
To learn more about Peggy and her work with Margaretta Studio, connect via the channels below.
Website – https://www.margarettastudio.com/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@margarettastudio
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/margarettastudio/
