Madeleine Stamer’s work is a Lilt Blog favourite for good reason. Full of colour, texture and folk inspired motifs, they bring light and joy into any interior.
Having studied Architectural Ceramics at Monash University and a Master of Fine Art degree at Monash Madeleine has since made a name for herself painting and illustrating bold and bright artworks that feature beautiful flora and fauna.
For the past 20 years Madeleine has balanced working part time as an art educator at prominent Melbourne schools as well as maintain her studio practice. Balancing family, exhibiting and creating small runs of limited edition and open edition prints, art pieces and collaborative projects from her home studio in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne.
Over the years Madeleine has collaborated on small & large scale projects for various clients such as The AFL, The Design Files, Gorman, Haymes Paint, The Meredith Music Festival, and The National Gallery of Victoria, just to name a few. And her joyful art has therefore become an important feature in the Melbourne creative scene.
Today I have the absolute pleasure of chatting with Madeleine as we discuss her journey into becoming an artist, her inspirations and dream collaboration. Read in below.
Can you tell us a little about yourself, your background/journey and what led you to becoming an artist?
Since a very early age, creating art and being around animals has always been my favourite outlet.
When I was a wee tot, I remember mum asking the local butcher if he could spare a few sheets of butcher paper for me to draw on. It was always a highlight visiting the meat man! Even during my time at kinder I’d always opt to stay indoors and paint on the easels than go outside to play with the other kids. This has been a reoccurring theme right through my life, but I’ve become better at balancing my social life andmy art!
How would you describe your work?
My art has a contemporary Australiana folky feel to it.
I majored in Architectural Ceramics at university but my days of dealing with clay dust are minimal due mostly to the clay. I now gravitate to working with synthetic polymer on canvas or creating works on paper with watercolours.
Birds, florals or a combo of both are my most common occurring themes.
Can you give us some insight into your process?
I keep a good, steady supply of materials so I can’t fall into the trap of procrastination.
I generally start by gesso-ing my canvases which I find a real chore and a time drag but it’s necessary for me to build up the level of texture that’s just right and the process keeps the canvas tight and bright. I generally don’t create preliminary sketches and prefer to work in more of a free flowing, intrinsic manner. I usually have an idea of what I want to paint which manifested in my head usually when I should be sleeping. I save all our plastic containers and reuse them for my paints. I use gesso as a base for all my colours which also gives my work a lovely semi matte appearance that is also water resistant. I build up multiple layers to create opaqueness and also scrumptious texture. Most of my originals are then scanned and prepped for editions which I sell through my online store and or through my agent.
What inspires your artworks?
Nature and nostalgia, pattern and colour, anecdotes and symbolism, folk art and ordinary everyday life experiences.
What does a day in the studio look like for you?
It’s multifaceted. I’m not always in the studio. I divide my time doing way more administrative work than I’d like to actually admit. Emails, invoicing, packaging orders, deliveries, the list goes on. I assist my husband Karl at his print studio Lantern Printing a few hours each week and he’s a great support and excellent industry guru with always the bestest advice. He’s my main sounding board.
What are some resources you use for inspiration?
My phone is my vault. I take a million reference pics per dayand I organise each image into neat photo albums so I can easily locate things. My head is usually a scramble, but I try really hard to maintain a basic sense organised chaos otherwise I’m a hot mess.
My studio is filled with nic nacs, cherished artworks made by friends, reference books, travel mementos and Wunderkammer objects that are a continuous source of inspiration.
The past few years have been quite challenging for many industries. Can you tell us about how Covid affected your practice and what changes you’ve made if any?
Let’s face it, Covid has been a bitch but I was happy being at home given that I am an introvert. Throughout 2020 I was still teaching part time and doing weekly online meets with my Kinder and Prep students. That was fun but also terrifying. Somehow, we made it work and together with the support of the school, staff and parents we pulled it off.
I also had my two daughters doing remote learning which had its own challenges. Finding the time to balance my own creative commitments was really tricky. Online print orders from my agent at Greenhouse Interiors kept me afloat and my little online store kept chugging along.
I worked around the clock fulfilling orders and daydreamed about all the fun destinations that my prints were travelling to. My customers are the best!
I constantly reassured myself and the kids that eventually there will be an end in sight and to just keep on truckin’. Post Covid and things have relatively remained the same albeit a quieter household with the kids back at school.
Tell us about some of the people in the industry who inspire you and why?
Truly, there’s so many creatives and small businesses that inspire me.
My biggest inspiration is Karl, my husband. He works in the same industry as me and he always offers sage, level-headed advice especially when I hit the panic button or need a solution to a problem. He has an excellent business head and is always incredibly patient and generous with his time.
What would your dream project/collaboration be?
I’ve always wanted to see my art on a hot air balloon.
It’s been a secret quest of mine to replace those dreaded uninspiring advertisements that you often see floating above you on your morning commute. I’d also get a real thrill seeing my art on the canvas of a sail boat! Imagine a group exhibition, on little sail boats bobbing around on the bay!
Where is your favourite place to shop in Melbourne (could be art supplies, interiors, clothing, food…anything)?
Admittedly, I gravitate to online shopping A LOT but I love venturing to the South Melbourne Market, it has everything I need especially fresh fruit and veg and snacks.
Cottage Industry is a firm fav and Pen always has something wonderful and unique on offer. I can’t go past Greenhouse Interiors because Jules is a massive supporter of my art and she always has a gorgeous selection of homewares and art made predominantly by Australian artists and designers.
When I’m at my home away from home in Millowl/Phillip Island, I love shopping at The Ivy Plant Studio in Newhaven for gifts and plants. Kaz Morton (ceramic artist) is now based in Phillip Island so a studio visit, is always must.
What’s next for you? What exciting things are on the cards for the year ahead?
Things happen slowly in these parts, but I’ve come to the realisation that I’m outgrowing my studio. A bigger, shared space with my hubby Karl (Lantern Printing) may be on the cards but we’ll see. Fingers crossed. x