Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Mitchell.
Madeline, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Somerville on a whim just after turning 19 years old. Before that, I had been interested in photography, but never explored it. After moving to Boston – and knowing absolutely no one – I started looking for creative outlets to fill my time, and ended up buying a used Canon DSLR off of Craigslist.
Eventually, I found a meet-up group created by Can Ahtam called Boston Portrait Meet where a bunch of photographers and subjects meet downtown and shoot photos for a few hours. It was this experience that really opened my eyes to the creative community in Boston, and got me excited about taking photos and being part of this group of artists. I started forcing everyone I knew let me take photos of them, and I developed what I like to think is my signature “moody” close-up style. I’m only 21 now, but my skill and style has evolved greatly since then, and I can’t wait to keep on shooting!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I mainly do portrait photography, but I absolutely love taking landscape shots occasionally. Not only do I love to simply make a beautiful image, but I want people to stop and examine the details that truly make the photo interesting to look at. I hope people viewing my work feel a sliver of whatever emotion I’m trying to convey through taking a photo of someone, whether it’s feeling pleasure, subdued, or just curious. One thing to keep in mind about my artwork is that my rule of thumb is the more natural, the better!
The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
My best advice for someone struggling to focus on art due to finances is to get creative with saving money; you don’t need the most expensive tools to make great art. Overall, I’d say to start budgeting to save for your art, work your tush off, and keep moving forward in any way you can. Lastly, if you can figure out a way to make a bit of money with your craft, go for it!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my work by visiting my Instagram, @maddilenss, where I post my favorite work most frequently. Additionally, people can support my work by visiting my website, www.maddilens.com, to check out my all-time favorite work, purchase prints, and leave me a comment telling me what you think! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maddilens.com
- Email: maddilens@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddilenss/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maddilensphoto/
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
