Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Cromley.
Hi Madison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a little girl, I was surrounded by creativity from all sides. Just about everyone in my family is artistic in one way or another, so being creative never struck me as a unique ability or “talent”. It just seemed innate to me! Whether it was helping my mom set the table or filling my sketchbook with drawings, I was always looking for ways to create beauty. My parents put me in private art lessons with a close friend of mine as a way to give me something to do after school, but those lessons absolutely propelled me to take a deeper interest in art.
When high school came around, it was important to me that I enroll in an art class each semester, and that was always my favorite part of the day. I eventually ended up at Auburn University, and after a year in school there, I began to miss making artwork. I would get back to my dorm after class & regularly find myself painting. Girls on my hall took notice, and they would purchase pieces from me to spruce up their dorm room walls. That is when I realized that I not only loved making artwork, but I especially loved sharing it with people. Ultimately, I changed my major to Studio Art, minored in business, and never looked back!
For me, beauty has always been about the invitation. I never want my work to feel intimidating or “untouchable”, the way many see the fine art world. I love to use art as a way to make a space feel personable, genuine, and approachable. That is what fuels my artistic process!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As with any job or business, being an artist definitely comes with its challenges. We live in a fast pace world that celebrates hustle, productivity, and quick success. While I do value efficiency, art is different from a “product”. It cannot be streamlined, and everything I sell is made by my own two hands. Each piece takes slow, intentional time, which is what makes art so special! I have to remind myself that every challenge, failure, learning curve, and critique is a way to grow, and growth cannot be rushed. I value the past two years of slow-and-steady progress because otherwise, I don’t think that I would have learned so many valuable lessons that have set me up well for the long term.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a mixed media artist, and I primarily work on wooden panels or paper. I work in acrylic paints, pastels, charcoal, graphite, watercolor, gouache…the list goes on! I love it all. Much of my inspiration comes from people, shapes, patterns, travel, food, & Biblical concepts. In terms of subject matter, my work ranges from portraits to landscapes and everything in between. I’m currently working on a collection of still-life paintings, which include bowls of fruit, florals, and tablescapes! I think my work is known for juxtaposition. I contrast neutrals with pops of color, realism with abstraction, and smooth textures with the rough. While my subject matter is typically traditional, the way I present my artwork is more whimsical in nature.
Any big plans?
Further down the road, I look forward to connecting more with clients in person! I started my art career in the midst of the pandemic, so I had no choice but to sell exclusively online. While that has been such a gift, I really look forward to hosting art events, meeting clients face to face, and showing my artwork in ways that people can fully engage with it. In a world that has become increasingly digital, I think there is so much value in being able to connect with collectors in person and build lasting relationships. Being that artwork will live on forever, I want my clients to know where it came from, who made it, and how it came to be…that is a rare thing these days, and I would absolutely adore the chance to be friends with the people who collect my work!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://madisonharriscromley.com
- Instagram: madison.fineart
- Facebook: madisoncromley.fineart
Image Credits
Margaret Kent @kentcollective_
