My work features a variety of mediums, but at the moment I am currently focused on oil painting. My first love was painting, I started out working in watercolour and being very detail oriented, creating ultra refined landscapes. As I ventured into oil painting, I soon learned that I could not control my medium as well as I could with watercolour. So rather than painstakingly work with a micro-fine brush and slowly grow mad trying to re-create the detail that I once was accustom to. I decided to embrace the uncertainty and the drips of oil painting. A lot of my pieces explore the natural movement and evolving nature of the artist's hand on the canvas. Yes, I do plan out what I want to create, but the end results look nothing how I envisioned them. The paintings manifest on their own, creating their own life through the characteristics of drips, current moods, environment, and the music I am inspired by. All of these things have the power to transport you to your creative mindset where you're ready to lose yourself and just work. My work can be defined as moving sound translated onto a canvas. 
I also enjoy drawing and working digitally. I was an Advertising major at the University of Alabama. While graphic design is a newer medium for me, it is one that I am constantly learning about and growing on.



Who are you and what do you do? I am a creative type. I find myself not satisfied unless I am constantly working or creating. Getting the idea out of my head and on to the canvas is what I do. The painting will always be a big part of my life, one that's stress relief and brings happiness into my life.
Why do you do what you do? The obvious answer, because I love what I do. There's a way that painting makes you feel. I get to lose all grasp of time and the outside world for a moment and create. I have such a strong relationship with my art, I genuinely feel like my Art loves me back. 
What’s your background? I've always been thrown into art. Ever since I was little, I was either taking drawing classes after school or signing up to for all the art clubs I could. I didn't want to let my art past escape me in college, so I decided to minor in Studio Art with a painting concentration as well as Art History.
What role does the artist have in society? One that can make society feel something and the power to bring society together. The power of art is enormously influential. It can get messages across to the public in a way .......
Explain what you do in 100 words
How has your practice changed over time? I used to be really detail oriented and make really "safe" art.  It was tame and I wasn't thinking outside of the box and the paintings didn't really make you feel anything, except "Oh that's pretty". I was doing a lot of landscape and architectural paintings. Don't get me wrong I love landscape paintings but there's a way certain artists paint them in their style with so much energy, which I love. As I got older I became more confident with myself and my work, that's when  I was able to focus on finding my own style and breaking away from the picture perfect paintings I was doing. 
What art do you most identify with? Abstract Expressionism 
What work do you most enjoying doing? My own ideas. I take on commissions, but It is more freeing to sit and paint whatever you want to do and not have any pressures.
What’s your strongest memory of your childhood? 
What themes do you pursue? The visual sound is a theme I've been pursuing lately.
What’s your scariest experience? Getting lost. 
What’s your favourite artwork? Art with a lot of bold colour and larger pieces that encourage the viewer to have to walk around to get a better look.  
Describe a real-life situation that inspired you? I took a recent trip to Asheville and got to check out the River Arts district. If you've never been before it's basically a muralist haven. Its a grouping of old buildings, I mean this space is massive, and it is covered in street art. I was so inspired by the colours and who different artists displayed their work, interacting with not only the building but with other artists as well. 
What’s your most embarrassing moment? Too many to account. I'm an incredibly awkward/clumsy individual. 
What jobs have you done other than being an artist? Besides running Madison Sumner | ART, I'm a stylist for Free People. 
Why art? Why not art? 
What memorable responses have you had to your work? At my most recent show, someone commented about the emotion in my work. 
What food, drink, song inspires you? Food-tacos, just because I love tacos. Drink-wine. And Songs-So many. Music is constantly playing in the studio. My pieces are very sound heavy. I'm always listening to the Rolling Stones, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Grateful Dead, Lana Del Ray,  and so many others. I love music and not only listening to the classics but discovering new music. 
What is your studio playlist? It is constantly changing. But my favourites include (Tangerine, Led Zeppelin), (Piece Of My Heart, Janis Joplin), (Turn On Your Love Light, Grateful Dead), (The Rolling Stones in general), (Green Tambourine, The Lemon Pipers), (On Mercury, The Red Hot Chili Peppers), (Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys), (The Chain, Fleetwood Mac), (Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix), (Freak, Lana Del Ray) 
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it? It can be lonely at times. I went from painting in my studio classes at school, where you are in a room full of people to paint by myself in my studio. You spend a lot of time by yourself with your ideas and art. I do miss having other creative minds to feed ideas off of. But sometimes painting by yourself, with no distractions is very freeing. I get mixed feelings at times whether it's lonely or a more productive environment. I counteract that feeling by getting out of my studio to seek inspiration by things around me. Whether it's checking out a new exhibit, going to a new lunch spot, or going out with friends, it's crucial to not become a recluse in the studio and to join the outside world every now and then. 
What do you dislike about the art world? 
What do you dislike about your work? It isn't as refined as I want it to be. I always feel like my work is a little mediocre at times and get hard on myself. I think it is just because it's so personal. 
What do you like about your work? I like the vibrant colours and the emotion I get to display. It's crazy to watch my pieces manifest from an idea to what they become. 
Should art be funded? Yes, it makes me mad when you realize how many schools are cutting out art programs during a crucial point in a child's developing life. When money is short, art is always the first one to go. 
What makes you angry? When people don't understand what I do or think it's just a "cute little hobby" 
What research do you do? I seek inspiration from colour palettes in my everyday life. Instagram has been a big source for a lot of my inspiration as well. 
What superpower would you have and why? The power to go back in time. I'd want to live through different time periods and also have to power to tweak moments in my past. 
Name something you love, and why. My dog Harper Lee, she is my world. She's always bringing constant joy in my life. 
Name something you don’t love, and why? How people can go from friends to strangers in your life in an instant. 
What is your dream project? A large-scale street art mural of one of Soundwaves.
Name your three favourite artists. Rothko, Vhils, and Vincent Van Gogh 
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? To not be too critical of your work. Paint what comes naturally to you and don't get too caught up in the details. 
Professionally, what’s your goal? To keep focusing on my art and to one day do marketing/PR for an art gallery. 

Who has been your biggest source of support? My parents because they've allowed me to do what I love. And my art teachers who have nurtured my love for what I do.