I have to proudly say that Florida is home to many of my art friends. This month, I'd like to introduce you to Madeline Faiella, my Artist Crush for January 2016, Madeline is a very sweet and joyful artist who is Living The Art Life ™.
I finally met Madeline a few years ago at the CHA (www.craftandhobby.org) MegaShow. Madeline is the owner and designer behind Madeline Faiella Designs, LLC. She is always positive and inspires me in how hard she is working her business and Living Her Art Life. I admire her drive and I love her designs.
I think you'll enjoy getting to know her as well and she'll even become your new artist crush.
Artist Crush Interview with Madeline Faiella
How would you describe yourself or your art?
My latest work is more digitally illustrated in the form of Maddy's Girlz™, a line of snarky, curvy, sassy and classy gals who are of a certain age in THIS age. It affords me the opportunity to integrate my humor - sometimes a bit edgy - and lots of color. I also like to make patterns so my work is easily used for art licensing in a few different areas, including, but not limited to the paper market, home décor, wall art, accessories and more. I recently finished a 100 Christmas card order and a poster and flyer assignment for a state-wide organization for the Paralegal's Association. My work carries humor and interaction with my audience. I'm pretty easy going but when I have something to say...well, let's say I'm pretty much like Maddy's Girlz™. I also write articles from time to time including Mixed Media Artist and the current Trends Report Surface and Pattern section for CHA. My newer work is very "attitude" supported and I have coached a few people to help them get by the rough spots in their business and their life in general. It's all one and the same for me. As the Girlz come around more I think you'll see I mean.
Are you a full time artist? If not, what is your 'other' profession?
I am a full time artist and at times do some side work for legal firms but I work remotely and it's very intermittent.What is your favorite medium?
I love pen and ink, Copics, watercolor and colored pencil. I use a combination at times and I scan my work into my Photoshop and/or Adobe Illustrator software and finish up digitally. At this time it's my favorite thing to do; that and painting in these two programs.Is there a medium you desire to learn more about?
Yes, and I'm doing that now; painting digitally. It's inspiring to mix technology and vision. Kind of like peanut butter and jelly...it just works.
What inspires your art?
My life inspires my art. The people around me and other great work that I admire often inspire me. Now with Maddy's Girlz tm I was inspired by things people say and moreover things they 'don't say' but are thinking. It's a lot of fun. I'm inspired by my travels and all the countries I lived in. I often call upon those memories for color themes or a feel that I'm looking for. I also know that I'm a conduit for what I can give artistically and as a person. It's all one you know. lol lol lol Simple but true. Often I'm inspired by learning a new action in one of my digital programs that leads me to an entire piece. I love it. I do take a lot of classes and they inspire me as well. The normal inspirational things of everyday life inspire me too like nice weather, good friends, family, and I think that I can be inspired today and something may come out a week from now, or longer. I like the thinking process where my vision inspires me as well. I guess I'm inspired by life.
Do you have professional training as an artist or self taught?
I have been drawing and making since I was a kid. I did attend The School of Visual Arts and I take tons of classes. I love learning. I am fairly self taught with my digital programs and now it's a transitional experience for me.Do you sell your work?
I do sell my work. I also license it.If yes, what venues do you use to sell your work?
My new website should be live December 12, 2015 and I have a shop there so that will be direct selling. I also use the internet a lot for selling and sending submissions. I have used some of the print on demand companies at first but will utilize them for specific items that I can sell directly. Word of mouth is really good for me.
Do you exhibit your work outside of your website or blog?
I have exhibited at Art Serve of Broward County. I exhibited jewelry and a few years ago I had two pieces in the 12 x 12 exhibition. I also exhibited at a small gallery in Royal Palm Beach Florida but only once with 3 pieces being shown. I LOVE the idea of working online. I am so intrigued by the fact that I can reach people globally. I have sold items to people in Europe whom I have known through my younger days when I traveled a lot as a singer. I get a kick out that.Tell me about your studio set-up:
My studio is due for a pare down. I am a curious person and I have tried and loved many mediums but at this point, I will be moving some things out. Everything is neatly gathered and packed in containers and that's because had a flood from the people upstairs after having a natural flood. I lost shelving so I now keep things as contained as possible. The studio is a second bedroom. It also serves as my office. There's a paper dress that I made hanging on the wall that I made from scratch for a Trend's Article for CHA a few years ago. I love it there. I pained my cabinets so they are bright red with leaves and flowers because I love that invigorating feel. The room is fairly bright when the sun is out but I am envisioning a new studio with tons of light. I use the computer quite a bit as you can imagine and it sits on the other side of the work table with my Wacom tablet. I have to admit that the studio can get messy pretty fast because I'm like Octopussy when I work. Now I am working with a lot of drawing materials and micro pens and my drawing pencils. I have a scanner/printer so that I can scan my work in and there are paint brushes everywhere. You know, even when I am paring down my brushes will stay with me forever. I have materials and supplies for a lot of things but with the new line I use them only for special projects.What is the one thing in your art arsenal that you can't do without?
Please explain your creative process?
If I'm illustrating I start with a movement drawing. Then I clean it up to a line drawing. Then I scan it into the computer and clean it up even more. Sometimes I will print it out and then colorize it in any one of many mediums or I will simply paint it in Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Then I build on layout. With the new line, Maddy's Girlz™, I usually get the saying first and then create around that or it might go the other way around. I have drawn a few of the Maddy's Girlz™ and changed the saying over and over. It all depends on what I'm doing. If it's wall art or a greeting card the concept may not work for both so it also depends on that particular project. I'll approach it with that in mind. I don't necessarily 'map out' a project first physically but I do a lot of prep in my head. My Dad was the same way and I guess it's just one of those things. I may think about what I'm going to do for days or weeks. The more precise my vision, the quicker I can get it done while enjoying a smooth journey.Expand on the concept of how you are Living the Art Life™:
If I'm illustrating I start with a movement drawing. Then I clean it up to a line drawing. Then I scan it into the computer and clean it up even more. Sometimes I will print it out and then colorize it in any one of many mediums or I will simply paint it in Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Then I build on layout. With the new line, Maddy's Girlz™, I usually get the saying first and then create around that or it might go the other way around. I have drawn a few of the Maddy's Girlz™ and changed the saying over and over. It all depends on what I'm doing. If it's wall art or a greeting card the concept may not work for both so it also depends on that particular project. I'll approach it with that in mind. I don't necessarily 'map out' a project first physically but I do a lot of prep in my head. My Dad was the same way and I guess it's just one of those things. I may think about what I'm going to do for days or weeks. The more precise my vision, the quicker I can get it done while enjoying a smooth journey.What is your greatest joy in your art life?
My greatest joy in my art life is when I finish a project and I find myself smiling. To me that means there's a connection. If there's a connection, I can engage with others and when they connect to it to, for that moment, my purpose is fulfilled.What is your greatest struggle in your art life?
There are few and I work on them constantly. Time management is huge for me. I can get sidetracked so now I try to 'chunk it out' as I mentioned before by giving myself certain chunks of time to get something done. Yesterday I gave myself 2 hours to get a promotion poster out for a client. I did it. A huge win for me. I took FB off my phone because I just had to. I only check in on FB a couple times a day and I will set business hours now to keep everything aligned. I'm not saying I won't sometimes work when the artistic muse is there but shutting down at certain times creates a better sense of business. I also struggle with organization. I'm soooooooooooo much better yet I often ask myself, Madeline, if you are not running the country, why do you constantly have stuff around. Honestly, I organize the studio or my desk and the next day it's as though Gremlins where there playing kick the stacks. I have had, organizational crisis on my computer at times. Where did I put that? So now I am working on that and making great strides. I know I have already cut down my time by days with the small changes I've made. Maybe one day we'll talk about all of that. Perseverance...put it where it belongs...but where's that? Yes, struggles. Technology was a struggle but I an honing in on what needs to be done and I as I mentioned I have hired help. Doing it all by myself is not an option any more. I will say though that I have never missed a deadline and I have no problem saying NO to things that need to be removed from my workload. I love to write articles and I tried to say yes to many but had to remove certain volunteer work from my schedule. I struggled with saying no but that's been cured. I just realized that. YES.
What other things would you like to share with our readers about Living The Art Life™?
I love what I do and I get a feeling of exuberance. It's great to be courageous about what I do and take those uncertain steps. I say that I live in a "pocket of risk" right now because my business is morphing into more of WHO I am than ever before. I love that I get to share what I do with others. For example, one of my pillows which I designed for the CHA Trends Report will be exhibited at the Mega Show in January at CHA in Anaheim. I love that people are enjoying Maddy's Girlz and that feedback is great. It's like a shot of expresso! I keep my feet on the ground by meditating and reading a lot of good books. I have up leveled my life and it's through my connections in art that I have been able to do that. So for me that's a good thing. The art life is different for everyone but there is one thing for sure...on so many levels I absolutely LOVE the freedom.Don't you love Madeline's fun and sassy style? I have a lot of respect for Madeline and that is one reason I chose her for my January 2016 Artist Crush. She's out there creating, designing, producing, and licensing...Living The Art Life™. Thank you, Madeline, for sharing a peek into your creative process. I hope you all will take a moment to check out Madeline and her work at Madeline Faiella Designs, LLC.
Leave me a comment below and let me know who else might you want to learn more about? Who is your Artist Crush?
