Collection: In Conversation with Madison Cromley

Where did you grow up? How did you express yourself creatively as a child?

• I am from Carrollton, Georgia! I loved growing up there. My parents tell stories of me as a little girl always loving to play dress up, helping set the table for dinners, and picking flowers everywhere I went. Looking back, those were some of the initial ways that I sought to create beauty.

Do you remember when you first picked up a brush? 

• I remember my mom letting us paint our own “stepping stools” that we would stand on to brush our teeth at the sink when I was about two years old! My parents used to put “spaghetti shirts” on my siblings and me, which were basically just giant t-shirts that we wore whenever it was time to playfully make a mess. It was so much fun!

What are a few of your earliest “artist” memories? 

• I remember I used to always ask my parents “what should I draw?!” as I played in my sketchbook. Most of the time it was puppies and flowers and people. Not much has changed!

Where did you study art and what was a piece of advice, lesson, or experience that has stuck with you from that time? 

• I went to Auburn University and received a BA in Studio Art! In one of my introductory classes, we were only allowed to use primary colors (red, yellow, & blue), white, and black. To this day, I have a hard time allowing myself to use paint right out of the tube. I love to mix up my own colors!

After going to school to further your art education, did you have an idea of the type of art medium you would focus on? 

• This was always a challenge for me. I saw so many artists that focused on just one thing, but I could never figure out what that was for me. I loved painting, drawing, ceramics, digital design, printmaking…really all of it. I had no idea how to limit myself to “one thing,” and I’m really thankful for professors that encouraged me to explore it all!

How long have you been painting professionally? 

• It has been two and a half years now! There have been many highs and lows, but I’m so thankful for every step!

How do you describe your artistic style? 

• My work is traditional in nature but visually whimsical. Even when I make more “realistic” artwork, I think it always has a touch of whimsy or slight imperfection that is characteristic to my most natural work. I love to juxtapose realism with expressionism.

What would the little artist in Madison tell you now? What would you say to your younger self? 

• Wow, she would be so surprised and excited to be an artist full time!! I wish I could tell her to be more outgoing, and instead of feeling shy, to shift her focus to others. There’s so much to learn from just engaging with people!

Take us back four years ago, what were you doing? (Would love for you to talk about your mission work and how that ties into your artwork now!)

• Four years ago, I was preparing to finish out my senior year of college and move overseas to work for a non-profit ministry! I lived in Asia for a year and loved every second. During that time, I had the chance to share who Jesus was to people who had never heard about Him before. That is still at the root of all that I do, and it fuels my artwork in every way. 

How has your work abroad influenced your artwork and the types of paintings and drawings you want to make now and in the future? 

• Aesthetically, travel, people, and culture fuel my original work tremendously, but at the heart of every piece I make, the Bible is my constant source.

Where are you based now? 

• I am in Atlanta, Georgia and work in the Virginia Highland neighborhood!

How did you choose to begin your career in Atlanta? What do you love most about this city? How does it inspire you creatively? 

• Being from Carrollton, Atlanta has always been familiar. I love that it is big enough to try new things & meet different people, but something about it still feels small and communal. I’ve been so inspired by the slowness in the midst of the excitement and vice versa.

What are a few places you love to go to relax and enjoy around Virginia Highland? Favorite date night spot? 

• I love to grab a cup of coffee and stroll around in the morning. So green and full of beauty. Looking at all the different houses just sparks something in me! My husband and I also love Fontaine's Oyster House! So much fun to sit on the back porch.

Have you engaged much with the art community in Atlanta? Have you showcased your work at any local galleries or artisan markets here? 

• Right now, I sell work at the Urban Cottage in downtown Virginia Highland. They have the most beautiful home goods, clothes, and are such sweet people! I actually did a pop-up with them for this past year’s “Porch Fest," but I hope to become more engaged with the local art community as the years progress!

You inspire so many with your creativity! What has been inspiring you lately? Are there a few places you go to or blogs/ books/ podcasts you read or listen to that keep you inspired? 

• Any TV show about food and travel will bring creative ideas to my mind. I love Chef’s Table, and my husband and I can’t get enough of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. Podcasts on repeat in my studio are the “How to Decorate” podcast by Ballard Designs, “How’d She Do That?” with Emily Landers, and “Journey-women” with Hunter Beless. I also love reading Southern Living. 

Best book you’ve read recently? 

• I loved “Liturgy of the Ordinary” by Tish Harrison Warren. So much beauty to be found in our mundane routines! I also highly recommend “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortland. It is about the heart of Jesus and is moving to my soul. 

What are five items that you think every artist should have on hand in their studio? 

• A beloved apron, comfy chair for painting breaks and computer work, disposable palette pads, a good sketchbook for play and preparation, and a large water jar for brushes. The more practical my studio is, the more efficient my workflow will be!

When it comes to your artwork, what feeling do you want to leave your viewers with once they’ve come across your pieces? 

• I always say that I want my art (and my life) to be “approachably lovely.” Approachable in the way it makes a space feel inviting, and lovely in the way it, hopefully, refreshes you. I think that’s what genuine beauty can do for us. 

Who or what influences your art the most? 

• Everyone I meet or know influences my work! People’s stories go hand in hand with “process,” and it helps me to better understand redemption, which is at the root of all of my artwork! Also, being in colorful spaces always gets my wheels turning. 

How do you go about setting up your studio for a day of painting?

• My morning ritual has actually become so fun for me! I open and close the blinds of my studio to mark my “work hours.” I make a latte before I start work, then after I let the light in each morning, I clear off my table to make space for my palette. I make sure to water my plants, then it’s time to paint!

Favorite colors for fall? Scents?  

• Yellow ochre, olive green, burnt orange, and deep red. Oh and chartreuse is a constant favorite for me!

What series are you currently working on? 

• I’ve been sitting on this idea for a while, but I’m planning to do a “front porch” series! The variety of blooms that sit by our doors, light fixtures, door and window shapes, and colors that make our homes immediately say “come on in” gets me really excited! 

You just opened up Christmas commissions! What is your favorite aspect of these types of works? Speaking of Christmas, I loved your ornaments last year! 

• Thank you!! The ornaments are really fun for me, and I love getting to be a part of people’s gift giving each year. There is so much thoughtfulness behind each commission inquiry that just warms my heart.

Are you dreaming up any new concepts for the fall? 

• I would love to see my art on products soon, so I plan to explore more with that this fall. I am a bigggg scarf person, so that would be fun to create. We will see!!

Who are some “greats” who inspire you? 

Henri Matisse, Vincent Van Gough, Johannes Vermeer, and Clara Peteers come to mind, but goodness so many others! I loved learning about Art History in school. 

Current muse(s)?

• My friends and family without a doubt. They always spark new ideas within me.

What color in your palette are you leaning toward recently? 

• Definitely cerulean blue!

Do you work best in the morning, afternoon or evening? 

• Evening is when I work best under pressure, but mornings are great when I want to paint slow and steady. 

What is one item you love to have in your studio at all times? 

• Titanium white paint! Can’t do a single piece of work without it! Also recently my mom and I painted an end table in my studio a true red color, and it makes me really happy every day. 

Describe the perfect setting to paint in! 

• Bright light, colorful accents everywhere, a big table, and a good smelling candle (my favorite is Linnea’s “Wood House” scent). Also a floor that can handle a big mess!

Easiest way that you personally get out of a creative rut? 

• If I need a quick fix, a good walk typically does the job. On those occasions that I get really stuck, traveling somewhere always sparks my creativity and excites me to get back into the studio!

Favorite art brushes/ tools/ studio finds? I will link them here! 

• Neocolor water soluble crayons (large set and small set)- these are so fun for loosening up and adding a bit of interest to paintings. 
• Holbein gouache (Blick set here) - such fun colors and I love working with gouache!
• Banana Leaf Baskets for storage! Pretty and practical :)

What are you most looking forward to for the fall season? 

• It is never easy for me to say goodbye to summer, but I am a sucker for a crisp fall morning. Also pumpkin bread.

Encouraging quote or piece of advice for young artists? 

• I recently was listening to Emily Lander’s speak on the “How’d She Do That?” podcast, and she made a comment that was basically “what’s the rush?!” I loved that, because it is so easy to feel behind or like we need overnight success to really “make it,” but I’d love to remind every artist that good work takes time, experimentation, patience, and to just enjoy the process!

Any brands or lifestyle items that you have your eye on? 

• My sister gifted me some lounge shorts from Madewell, and I wear them like a uniform. I’m also currently eyeing The Goldbug Collection’s “Door Pendant” charm and “Okra Earrings.” Just about everything they create feels nostalgic to me, and I deeply resonate with the inspirations that fuel them. I’d also love to get my hands on James Farmer’s new book, Celebrating Home. His gardens and interiors embody the “approachably lovely” concept so well.

Place you’re dreaming of traveling to sometime soon? Fall travel inspiration? 

• My husband and I are going to New Orleans for our one year anniversary this October. We can’t wait to listen to jazz, explore, and eat some gooood food! I’m hoping to check out a lot of art while we are there as well.

Song that’s on repeat in your art studio? Maybe I’ll add it to the Kent Collective playlist!:)  

• My standard go-tos are James Taylor, John Mayer, and Lake Street Dive, but lately I’ve had “Sammy Rae and The Friends” on repeat, specifically the song “Talk It Up." Listen to Madison’s favorites on the Kent Collective studio playlist! 

My sister commissioned a beautiful drawing of our family’s home to give to my parents on her wedding day. Do you enjoy drawing homes? What about that collaboration did you enjoy most? 

• I was so flattered when she reached out to me! It was fun dreaming up that project with her, and even more fun to see your parents’ reactions! I know those walls hold such important memories, so home commissions are always special to me.