Montevideo artist grabbing the opportunity that comes with unexpected changes

BY SHELBY LINDRUD | WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

MONTEVIDEO — Times of upheaval can often bring about new opportunities, even ones you might never have thought to look for. That is what has happened to M E Fuller, a Montevideo-based author and artist who has taken those unexpected chances and turned them into successes.

“It’s okay that I am 70 years old and just hitting my stride,” Fuller said. “There are doors opening for me now.”

WORDS ON A PAGE

The first open door came about eight years ago, when Fuller lost her job working for Crow Wing County as an administrative assistant.

Instead of looking for a new full-time job, Fuller decided it was time to finally focus on her art and writing and to do what she wanted, not what a client or employer required. While she still had to work to make a living, at least this time it would be on her terms.

“I’m going to go after what I’m good at,” Fuller said. “This was my opportunity to jump back in and really start to learn and study.”

Artist M E Fuller works on her most recent painting in her Montevideo studio on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

She received a grant from the Five Wings Art Council to basically learn how to write a novel, which helped her create the first draft of her first book, “Saving the Ghosts.” She then received a second artist project grant from Five Wings that helped her complete the publishing process for that book. She also took part in a five-day residency with Minnesota authors Nickolas Butler and B.J. Hollars.

“It turned me on my head about how to really approach the book,” Fuller said. “It is what it is today because that really opened my eyes to something that made sense to me about how to process your story and how to deliver it.”

“Saving the Ghosts” is an intense fictional story about a woman having to come to deal with abuse she suffered as a child. Because of the tense subject matter of that first novel, for her second book, Fuller wanted to do something less heavy.

She decided to create a cozy mysteries series, titled “Filthy, Dirty Gardening Gloves.” The first book, “Blood on the Bridal Wreath” was released in 2021.

“It’s a little saucier than a normal cozy mystery,” but still not graphic, Fuller said. “It is meant to be silly and funny. It isn’t going to break your sleep.”

With two books under her belt, Fuller has started giving author talks and holding writing workshops across the region. Fuller doesn’t consider herself a writing teacher, but rather a coach. Just as authors helped her when she first started writing novels, Fuller is giving back by assisting new writers get started.

“Readers like to hear from authors about how they wrote things,” Fuller said. “And I like to talk about it.”

Writing has taken a bit of backseat recently, since Fuller’s painting started to take precedence this past year. Despite that, she plans to get back to her keyboard, working on the second book of her mystery series this fall, along with scheduling author talks and book signings across the region.

“I want to get back to my writing practice,” Fuller said.

Artist M E Fuller works on her most recent painting in her Montevideo studio on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

PAINT ON A CANVAS

For most of her life, Fuller has dabbled in traditional ways of painting and drawing. That all started to change last June when she took an online class she thought would help her with her watercolors.

Instead, it opened her eyes to entirely new way of seeing and painting art— abstract expressionism. The course, taught by Pat Dews, focused on painting nature in the abstract. At first, Fuller wasn’t sure about it.

“I couldn’t connect with what she was doing, but I was fascinated by it,” Fuller said.

Intrigued, Fuller started watching YouTube videos and took another online course, this time with artist Louise Fletcher. It was during that class that everything connected.

“They take layers and layers of texturing and paint and mark making to find what is there,” Fuller said.

In Fuller’s opinion, abstract painting isn’t just about seeing the picture. It allows the painter and the viewer to actually experience what is being presented on the canvas, whether it is feeling a breeze off Lake Superior or hearing the crunch as you walk through a snowcovered field. Abstract work also allows the viewer to see something in the painting that the artist doesn’t.

M E Fuller works on her most recent novel in her Montevideo home on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

“This abstract work is the most exhilarating creative experience I have ever had,” Fuller said. “It is just different.”

Fuller’s venture in abstract expressionism has attracted new attention to her work from other artists, buyers and galleries. Since she started her new paintings, she has booked several regional gallery exhibits, such as at the K.K. Berge Gallery in Granite Falls, and even did a live painting show with well-known Minnesota artist David Austin.

Next fall, a solo exhibit of Fuller’s abstract work will go on display for several weeks at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji.

“It is just stunning, I can’t quite take it in,” Fuller said.

GRABBING OPPORTUNITIES

Fuller said she doesn’t believe in regrets and, for the most part, she doesn’t have any.

The fact that it took until she retired for her art and writing career to really take off isn’t a negative in her book. Instead, it is an example of not turning away when life offers you an opportunity. Losing her job pushed her to start up her bookwriting business.

Then the coronavirus pandemic arrived. While she wouldn’t wish a global pandemic, or illness, on anyone, Fuller admits she was one who yielded some surprise benefits, especially regarding her art.

“It left me with all the time I needed, all the space I needed to work on whatever ideas I had,” Fuller said.

Without that time, Fuller might never had discovered her love and talent for abstract art and been able to share it with others.

Despite the challenges those life events caused, Fuller made the decision to take a chance, to see where those opportunities might lead you. You never know what might happen.

“Take advantage of the situations that come, show up for things,” Fuller said. “Find out, don’t guess.

M E Fuller holds one of her recent paintings in her Montevideo home on Thursday, Aug. 4. Fuller’s art falls under the category of abstract expressionism.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

M E Fuller’s novels “Saving The Ghost” and “Blood on the Bridal Wreath” sit in her studio in Montevideo on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune