We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madison Liedtke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madison below.

Madison, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Madly is the biggest risk I have taken. I always had this incessant feeling that I needed to pursue something creative on my own. It would show up in different ways. First, it was starting a “business” selling bracelets in the back of my 3rd grade classroom. Then, it was “Skye Denim” where I upcycled thrifted denim, getting messy with bleach and paint. I was very entrepreneurial but felt directionless. I was urged by society and people around me to go the safe route, get a degree in something like business, go work for a fortune 500 company, make sure I’m contributing to my 401k, yadda, yadda. I put up such a resistance to this, but ultimately found myself settling. That incessant feeling got hotter and hotter until it boiled over. I really feel like what I’m about to say has become so cliché. But it happened. In 2020, Covid slowed me down and showed me that my “hobby” in drawing could become something much bigger. I found myself drawing more and more and started sharing on Instagram. It gained some interest. I found Daren Magee @realfunwow and he became my #1 expander. I thought woah he’s doing it. So, I started really putting in the work. I found myself having to drag myself to my 9-5 job. I was thinking (and working on, shhh) Madly the whole time. Then I got laid off. All of my fears of not doing the “safe” route came to a head. I was so scared of being a “Starving Artist” but I knew in my bones I had to take the leap. So instead of just becoming a full-time artist in my hometown, I said lets pack up all my things, move to Southern California and start from scratch, literally knowing no one in the art world out here and having very very little in my bank account. I have had to grind. I still am finding my way, but I see little rewards frequently that whisper “Keep Going”. I couldn’t be more grateful for this journey. I’ve realized taking the risk isn’t about the end goal. It’s about surrendering to the process and enjoying it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Madison! I sell art prints, stickers and paintings as well as products such as blankets with my designs woven into them. Back in 2020, I took the risk to go after my art. I slowly learned that I could offer a lot of healing through my difficult experiences. I wanted to pay it forward. As someone who was really struggling with anxiety and disordered eating, I was seeking new tools and relievers that weren’t just medicine. I have always been very holistic and wanted to get to the root of the problem. That year gifted me with self-reflection leading to a very profound spiritual journey. I found self-love, self-worthiness and peace of mind through meditation, readings and taking care of my body. I was able to learn life lessons of great value. I found myself visualizing these lessons and creatively expressing them. Learning to be more present in each moment allowed me to take in my surroundings and see it through an artistic lens. I felt my soul light up and had a deep intuitive knowing that I had found my purpose. I have grown Madly to what it is today and continue to have that exact same drive as I did day one. Currently, I am actively immersing myself in the California art community and steadily getting more eyes on my work, selling to retailers and producing more art! I am enjoying the journey of this business and all it has introduced to me.
My big takeaway for you is that I want my art to communicate what words cannot through positive spiritual intention. I want people to feel understood when they see my work.

I always love to collaborate with other artists, creators, musicians, brands and companies. If time permits, I would love to set something up.

How did you build your audience on social media?

So I am absolutely no expert in this, but I have put a lot of work and effort into doing my best on social media. It’s where I got reassurance to take the leap of faith into pursuing my art, so I have a lot of respect for it. It’s also where I found my recovery coach so I am incredibly grateful for the platform.

I focus primarily on Instagram and recently Tik Tok. I think social media can be a good thing as long as your authentic and realistic. I even am at fault for curating this “aesthetic” feed but I try to bring hints of reality here and there. I treat my Instagram as a portfolio. It’s there to showcase my talents, process and ultimately bring value to others. My goals are to bring more value and be more open about my healing. I think people are looking for someone to relate to and I just wanna be that person. I think that can really help people on their healing journeys.

Also! Consistency is key! It’s probably not going to happen overnight, keep going, the journey is the best part!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes! I am finding that I have a deep passion for promoting body neutrality through my artwork. I have always habitually drawn female figures, bodies, etc. and I think it’s super important to show acceptance for all variations. As someone who has struggled hard with eating disorders and body dysmorphia, I know this is soo important. I came to a revelation that more people need to know about. Body positivity just wasn’t working for me, it felt like I was forcing myself to love every inch. It kind of felt like a Band-Aid. I resonate so much more with body neutrality because the goal is to just have acceptance for what is. We accept the good and the bad. There is nothing wrong and we don’t need to have so much resistance to the “bad” feelings.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopmadlyart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/madlyart
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/madison-liedtke
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/ShopMadlyArt