Artist Madeleine Stamer’s work is hugely influenced by a Melbourne shop her mum took her to as a child and her dad’s love of birds.
It just goes to show what a profound impact our childhoods, where are parents take us and what they introduce us to can have, and I think that’s rather wonderful!
“My mum has always been my style guru,” says Madeleine. “She’s a needlework champion and used to work part time at Priscilla’s Tapestry shop in High Street, Armadale near my favourite shop. Market Import, in the iconic Moray Street retail strip. Mum first took me to Market Import when I was a child. I have fond memories of the pure white walls encrusted with vibrant Mexican handcrafts, bedazzling like precious jewels. I recall being enthralled by the ladies’ gift-wrapping skills which involved wrapping even the teeniest of objects in layers and layers of rainbow-coloured tissue paper topped with fancy adornments that would make any recipient’s heart swoon.
“Over the years, our home continually filled with Mexican folk trinkets, crucifixes and brightly painted ceramics, all purchased by Mum from Market Import. This fueled my desire to pursue studying Ceramics at Monash University and later I enrolled in a Masters of Ceramics. They were to be some of the happiest, crazy and inspirational years of my life thus far.”
The illustrator, sculptor and artist’s love of all things Mexicana is strikingly obvious in her work. Her affordable prints have been flying out of the door, helped recently by an appearance or two on The Block.
Her late dad, with his love of nature, was also a major inspiration. “He bought me my copy of What Bird Is That? by Neville W. Cayley. It has been my bird bible all these years. Most of my work features a bird or at least I try to sneak one in. When my dad passed away my birds became a symbol of him, they represent a spirit force.”
Colour, says Madeleine, occupies her thoughts and dreams constantly. “I have a couple of palettes that I alternate between. I often work with black ink on a white background. Other times I opt for a monochromatic palette and lately I’ve been working on my Midnight Tricks series (pictured) with hand painted paper and collage on a heavy black background.”
She met her husband Karl (author of Kings Way: The Beginnings of Australian Graffiti) during the Melbourne 80s graffiti scene. “I have been a long time admirer of the graffiti culture,” she says. “Similar to the practice of aerosol art, I have adopted the technique of creating freehand outlines on paper then filling in colour with ink and watercolour paints. I guess I would describe my work as being a fusion of folk and contemporary elements — part nature, part symbolic patterning — with an Australiana twist.”
Over the years, and since become a mum herself, Madeleine’s moved away from ceramics and more towards art, which she also teaches part-time. “I predominantly teach Early Years children. Naturally, you have your good days and really crappy days but overall teaching has helped shape me to be a better person, a better parent, better partner and better artist. It requires patience, energy, good listening skills and a big, fat, kind heart, topped off with a sense of humour! I’m always trying to sharpen those skills; the students often set me straight and fuel me with inspiration to aspire to be all kinds of good.”
Sales of her prints, which cost from just $60, have really taken off in the last few years. “I believe more and more people are recognising the value of fine art prints. Instagram, Facebook and the design markets such as Finders Keepers and Markit have been an amazing platform for artists and designers to promote their work, the ripple effect is astounding.”
Like many artists, Madeleine loves to be surrounded by things that inspire her and loves her family home. “It’s small but it has good bones. We renovated 12 months ago. I work from home and enjoy being surrounded by inspiring objects, art, my children’s creations, seasonal flowers, plants and all the good stuff in between. Sometimes I’d be quite content not having to leave the house for days on end but I don’t think that’s a very healthy option!” And when she sees her work on other people’s walls? “My inner Leo bulges with pride and my inner child squeals with delight!”
If you’re interested in buying Madeleine’s prints, trade or retail, please contact Greenhouse Interiors via [email protected]
WIN
Maddie has kindly given one reader the chance to win an A3 print of their choice from the Midnight Tricks series, worth $100. To enter, please comment below and tell us what your parents inspired in you, by midnight on Wednesday 18 December 2013.
18 replies on “Artist Madeleine Stamer’s inspiration and her new series Midnight Tricks”
my dad inspired me to be a bird nerd as well! love!
I would have to say my inspiration came from my grandparents. They had a fire in the 60’s which destroyed just about everything they owned. They moved to an old 50’s house and started again with 60’s furniture. I am sure my love of all things vintage began here, particularly of the 50’s and 60’s era. There were hawaiian scene frosted glass doors, colourful poufs and retro armchairs (which I now own), a beautiful 50’s kitchen and of course hydrangeas in the garden.
So love Madeleine’s use of colour, makes me feel happy!
My dad was a shoemaker and I grew up in his workshop. The saying goes that a shoe box was my bed! I love the eclectic collection of things! Rows of shoes, pieces of leather, tools and machinery, the amazing smells! All takes me back and reminds me of the depth of influence our environment has on our children. Love you Maddi x
OMG.. The wattle is soo good!
With a father as a cabinet maker, he was always at his workbench on the weekends making wooden pieces or fixing things as they needed it.. As a young girl I use to love standing near and watch him work away. I witnessed the labour of love that went into his craft. To this day Im inspired by anything hand-crafted. Love your work.
My mum used to take us to visit my nanna at the Sydney Royal Easter show. My nanna used to design one of the district exhibits and was a master at preserves. I loved all the patterns and intricate detail and I think it definitely influenced my love of art and my future career as a graphic designer.
Healthy living and hard working. Mum was always playing tennis keeping fit and now constantly playing golf in her 70,s My Dad hand built a beautiful red 40 foot yacht in our back yard for approximately 15 years while my sister, brother and I watched it progress we learnt to appreciate his dedication to his passion of the sea. Work hard but toil in what you love has rubbed off on me with my love of country living as I get ready for my morning. Walk while my teenagers sleep.
My mum definitely instilled good manners in me and although I didn’t get to know my dad as an adult, I think his good nature and open heart taught me to love and accept those around me, no matter what race, physical ability or age.
Ps. I have been a patron of Market Imports since the late 80’s. I too loved those delicious layers of coloured wrappings. I think I have some pretty lucky friends who were the recipients of my MI purchases!
My parents inspired me to be kind, love life & live healthy. We grew up learning that even the simplest stuff in life can make it all the more speacial. My parents migrated from Greece at different times in the 60’s, married, had a family, worked hard to make my & my sister’s childhood a joy. They always made time for us as a family, weekends at the beach, cooking together, nothing extravagant but life was spontaneous & fun. Today, my husband & I do the same with our own daughters & we know that these little moments will help shape their lives as they did mine.
Lovely interview Maddie! All the best with your new beautiful series. Stunning!
My parents inspired me to look up, look close and look far opening my eyes to the wonder and beauty of nature. In my fathers beehives the wonder of life was evident. In my mothers vegetable and flower gardens beauty reigned. These experiences led me to follow an artistic life.
My parents inspired me to have a ” can do ” for everything and the ability to create things rather than buying them from shops all the time.
Hi! My parents inspired me to enjoy the world around me, either by travel ( such a fun bug!) or by close proximity. When the sun rises and I hear the giggle of our one year old daughter at the early hour of dawn I wake up happy knowing there’s another great day to enjoy!
My mother instilled in me a love of reading and books. This has opened up so many worlds for me..art, nature, colour, cultures, people..they are all there in abundance!
My mum and dad were a bit like chalk and cheese. Both inspired me, but in very different ways.. My dad (like many first-generation migrants wanting to make ‘a better life’) was all about hard work and the idea that ‘play only happens after the work is done’. It seemed harsh at the time but made me super disciplined and efficient. I always worked hard and quickly so that playtime could be mine!
My mum was always an avid knitter. She would knit every night and made me lots of jumpers as well as copious toys. I would often want the things I liked to be created in toy form, so she made up patterns and knitted me all sorts of oddities, such as a daffodils, windmill, trains, and even a passionfruit! We also had many crafting afternoons, where she would supply a whole bag of offcuts and I would go about making all manner of things. Best. Fun. Ever!
As an adult, I still need my ‘creative time’ and little projects now. You will often find me rushing to complete my daily chores just so that I can sit back and get my creative on….even if it means producing something as precious and mindless as a piece of knitted fruit!
My parents inspired many things in me. Traits such as: patience, compassion, determination, forgiveness and loyalty. They taught me to build my own self -confidence and not to rely on others to make me feel good about myself. After all, my opinion of myself matters more than what others think of me.
They led by example in showing me that you’re never too old to pursue and start living your dreams.
Work for what you believe in. Follow your passion and trust that you are capable of doing whatever you set your mind to. If you allow self-doubt to cloud your judgement, you limit your creative capabilities. You can do so much.
The quote ‘find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’ comes to mind when I think of my parents.
Lastly, as a Libran, I inherited my Mum’s star sign and with it, a love and personal quest to be surrounded by beauty, coupled with a desire for balance. Madeleine Stamer’s artworks are truly beautiful. An honour it would be, to have one of her pieces upon a wall in my home.
Thanks for everything Mum and Dad. Thanks also to Jen for the opportunity to enter such an amazing competition and to Madeleine for giving Jen’s readers the chance to win one of her eye-catching prints. Merry Christmas to all!
My parents instilled in me a perennial sense of optimism!