Meet Madi Young
One of our newest artists is Orange local, Madi Young! As the owner of The Corner Store Gallery, Madi spends all her time surrounded by art!
We have been so lucky to score a handful of her pieces for our store! Her latest body of work features local Eucalyptus trees and we can't get enough of her stunning colour combinations!
We sat down with Madi to get know a little more about the artist behind the canvas!
How did your love of art start?
I've always been an arty, crafty kid. My sister and I drew all over the outside of our brick house when we were kids with wax crayons (thought it'd have the same effect as chalk). The drawings are still there..... oops.
Mum and dad always encouraged me to make art, they used to send me to those holiday art workshops at the regional gallery all the time. Got my photo in the local paper and they totally framed it for the wall.
Art was my best subject at high school and then I went off to study Fine Arts at the University of Newcastle. I never thought it'd actually lead to a career. I came home to Orange to be the Artist in Residence at Kinross Wolaroi School, which was the best job ever! That lasted 4 years and then I accidentally opened my own art gallery, and here we are!
Where do you draw inspiration?
Our local landscape around Orange is my main source of inspiration. I spend a lot of time out near Mount Canobolas and the Pinnacle most days. I'm totally obsessed with eucalyptus trees, their structure, colour, texture, smell... They have inspired my last two bodies of work. I spend a lot of time around art and am of course inspired by other artists in my gallery and on Instagram as well. But colour is my main passion. I like quirky combinations, the ones that look a little bit wrong but still work.
What does a standard day look like for you?
I wake up super early because I share a bed with my 2 year old son. He wakes up between 4 and 5am and then does gymnastics in the bed for a couple of hours while I try to sleep. I drop him off at daycare then take my dogs for a run out near the mountain. Come home, make myself presentable, grab a coffee from my local Bills Beans East Orange and start work at the gallery. My studio is attached my gallery so most days I can paint while the gallery is open. Visitors really like to see the way I work and they get to know my process better.
When I finish work, I pick up my little man, cook him dinner, bath then bed. If I have the energy, I'll try to do a yoga session or draw up some new sketches for artworks while I watch TV.
When are you at your happiest?
I LOVE being out at the farm walking my dogs. Those moments of quiet, when there are only natural sounds, birds, frogs, crickets, the wind. Those moments when you can't hear any of that man-made white noise! And obviously having a little coffee date with my main man Magnus.
The Jumbled Quickie
The first thing you do when you have spare time: Go for a walk and listen to a podcast.
Guilty pleasure: CHOCOLATE! Always always chocolate!
Dream Collaboration: Gorman!
Hidden Talent: I'm a singer (or I used to be).
One thing from your bucket list: I want to make a book of studio visits and interviews with artists. I want to take the photos!
Favourite Spotify Playlist: I'm really into the "Alternative 10s" playlist at the moment.
Go-to meal to cook when you have friends over?: Dumplings
Craziest thing you've ever done? Open an art gallery?
Last book you read: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Current Netflix addiction: I always go back to Brooklyn 99 for a laugh.
Song that gets you on the dancefloor: The Prodigy, Smack my Bitch Up (haha)
What is your ultimate weekend in Orange: Get a super nice air bnb, dinner at Mr Lim's, then on to The Parkview Hotel for some drinks. Coffee at Bills Beans East Orange, Farmers Markets, Lunch at Groundstone, trip to the regional gallery, The Corner Store Gallery, The Sonic (obviously!) Hawkes General Store, a lap around Lake Canobolas, walk up the Pinnacle or Federal Falls, dinner at Sweet Sour Salt, on to Washington and Co. whiskey bar. Gotta do some wineries too, Heifer Station, Swinging Bridge, Ross Hill, De Salis, Phillip Shaw are some faves.
Photograph by Monique Lovick