I love to paint engaging watercolor florals that add a touch of magic to any living space. My pieces invoke the feeling you get when you stand in the middle of a wildflower field, your grandmother’s garden, or your small fire escape oasis. My artistry arises from hidden garden nooks, hard to find, yet bursting at the seams. Lucky for me the world is full of fairy gardens, verdant life, and inspiration just waiting to be revealed to someone who knows where to find it.
Hi Friends!
Madison here! I am a self-taught watercolor artist, flower enthusiast and bird mom based in Richmond, VA.
As a young girl, my fondest memories were the weekends I spent with my grandmother watching her work as a professional oil painter. My first lessons in composition were through her as she stood over my shoulder, instructing me against the backdrop of her china cabinet
I picked up watercolors in the past few years, while I maintained painting as a hobby, I hadn’t considered it a professional avenue until recently. My grandmother’s oil-based talents seemed enormous shoes to fill. I was content on my path in performing arts...until I discovered watercolors.
Ironically, my grandmother always spoke about how much she vehemently despised watercolors. She believed them an unruly, unpredictable, and temperamental medium
“With oils, you can always go back and fix things...watercolors are too permanent you can’t fix your mistakes” -Grandma Finch
Long after she passed, as my curiosity grew for this art form, I could hear her Brooklyn accent in the back of my mind telling me to avoid watercolors for the sake of my sanity. I couldn’t help myself…I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
I can see why my grandmother found them so frustrating, in the early stages of playing with watercolors I found myself making a plan and then watching that plan dissolve with every brush stroke. Yet in their challenges, I still love what watercolors bring to an empty canvas because they most accurately portray the vision I am seeking. As a person who strives for perfection, watercolors are always there to remind you that to be fully present you must let aspects in your life flow. In each piece, I relearn to relinquish control and to simply enjoy the process of creating.
As my love for watercolors grew, I realized I was no longer trying to live up to my grandmother’s legacy but honoring it in my own way. I think of her every day while I paint and I know she’s still standing over my shoulder guiding my hand proudly all the while wondering how I’m making something so out of my control my own.
Photos by: Colin Matthews