Artist Spotlight: Madge Gressley

Photo and story by Kim Carr

Madge is the first to admit that she is an eclectic artist, moving from one medium to another.  She views each medium as a challenge that must be studied, explored and delved into.  Once she gets the technique for each style worked out, she tends to find interest in another art form due to the challenge each creates.

As Madge’s desire to create grew, so did her interest in the BOMH when she was encouraged by another member to join.  She is very proud of her juried status with the BOMH.  She worked hard to gain the recognition.  Madge was juried in the painting and drawing category for her work with dry brush acrylic painting techniques.  Over the years, Madge has enjoyed exploring and working in oils, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, colored pencils, graphite, pen and ink, clay and photography.  Currently Madge is all consumed with expressing herself through her writings.  You can view her Best of Missouri Hands page at http://www.bestofmissourihands.org/artisans/painting-drawing/madgegressley/

Madge is also a signature member of the Missouri Water Color Society http://www.mowsart.com/Default.aspx

When I chatted with Madge, she was visibly excited about a book that she has in the works.  It started out as self-therapy, just for fun and relaxation.  Over time her story has evolved into 300+ pages and growing.  With the encouragement of friends and family, Madge hopes to publish her fictional story as an ebook.  Of course it involves a guy and a gal, love, espionage, sabotage, exotic lands, deep sea adventures, murder… sure to be a real page turner.  You could see the wheels turning as she talked about her current passion.  There are already thoughts of developing and exploring the life of one of the characters in more depth which means… book #2 is only a matter of time.

As a youngster, Madge was heavily influenced by time spent on her Aunt’s farm.  She and a cousin would spend two weeks every year on the farm between Lincoln and Warsaw.  Here they spent days in the hay loft playing with the farm cats and reading Nancy Drew Mysteries.  In grade school, she was always asked to draw horses for her friends and this continues to be a favorite subject matter.  One of her biggest influences was her 7^th grade art teacher, Mrs. Williams, who always encouraged young Madge to pursue her art.  Madge continued to take art in school for the next five years at Smith Cotton High School in Sedalia until she graduated.  Another huge influence on Madge’s desire to learn and create was her husband who enjoyed telling everyone that he taught her everything she knows.  Sadly he passed away two years ago and is sorely missed but his support and love of the arts continues on.  Madge’s mom and both of her children are very artistic but never persued the arts as a career. The creative gene runs in the family.  Madge has a granddaughter, Holly Gressley, who is coming into her own as an artist creating video game characters and science fiction.  You can find her work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hollygressley

Madge has exhibited her work from California to Florida.  Her work can be found in private collections in England and China.  She works from her in-home studio which she admits, is a bit of a mess.  Madge markets herself through her website www.meg-originals.com.  Commissioned work includes everything from family members to pets or replicating a treasured photo for a client.  One such piece included two little boys who had received BB guns as a present.  The photo was dear to the family and Madge was able to create a work of art with her colored pencils working in black, white and grays… making an heirloom which can be handed down generation to generation.

Madge did not go for a degree in art but feels she has taken enough art classes at the local community college and nearby University to have acquired a degree.  She enjoys learning and improving upon her skills.  Since 2005, Madge has put her artistic abilities to work in a small business she shares with a partner called Art & Graphic Innovations.  http://www.art-graphicinnovations.com/  With the ability to work from home, Madge is able to balance her art- based career with her ever growing desire to explore new creative outlets for all the ideas that pop into her head causing her to bring life to these thoughts whether it be through a brush stroke or written word.

When asked if she had any words of wisdom for new artists, she said the advice of an instructor has stuck with her through the years.  Give yourself permission to fail; the piece is never so precious that you can’t do another one.  This advice helped Madge when she struggled with a watercolor she was working on in class.  Once she relaxed and realized it didn’t need to be perfect or that she could always start another piece, things fell in place for her.

Because artists do not like to let grass grow under their feet, Madge has served as the Superintendent for the Fine Art Division of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia for many years.  She has stepped down recently and now serves as the Co-Chair for this ten day event which serves artists across the state.  The State Fair allows artists of all mediums to exhibit their work to thousands and thousands of visitors.  Artists are able to compete and exhibit in an open category or in the MO-50 which is a juried exhibit.  www.mostatefair.com In addition to serving as Co-Chairman for the Fine Art Division, Madge also serves as Chairman for the Queen of the Prairies Festival of the Arts which is in its 3^rd year.  This year’s show date is September 28^th and is located in the historic district of Sedalia.  The jury fee is waived for all general members and juried members of the BOMH.  If you are interested in participating, please visit http://lcaasedalia.com/festival.html

It was obvious that Madge is a bundle of energy with a need to create.  Keep your eyes open and your Kindles charged; you never know what will be coming from the studio of Madge Gressley of MEG Originals.