We were lucky to catch up with Mandy Madsen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mandy , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I am blessed to be able to make a living being an artist and small business owner. I own Frameworks Gallery, a custom picture framing shop and art gallery in Highland Park St. Paul area. I have been framing for 11 years and owner for 6. I value other artists and promoting their work through my gallery. I am an artist myself and am inspired by nature and my faith.

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

As far back as I can remember, I have enjoyed working with my hands and creating. I grew up drawing and experimenting with artistic mediums, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do for a career. In 2012 at 30 years old, I started a job in custom picture framing at Frameworks and fell in love. My first position was part time, mostly helping customers with designs and putting projects together in the back of the shop. It was this brilliant combination of creativity, design, problem solving, craftsmanship and purpose. I knew almost instantly I had found my career path.

I quickly went to full time hours, worked my way up to manager and have owned it for over 6 years now. I love being able to make a living doing something that I am passionate about. It has so many layers of fulfillment to it.

Framing itself is an art and brings together beauty and function by combining elements that are visually appealing and preserve the piece for years to come. I frame everything from original art, diplomas, family heirlooms, textiles and just about anything you can think of. The diversity of what I frame keeps the job interesting!

Knowing my customers and investing in their lives will always be top priority for me. It is my mission to have a person walk into my shop and feel they are valued, taken care of and respected. We work with colleges, businesses, churches, artists, and individuals from all walks of life. Being able to recognize their needs, fulfill expectations and do it all in a way that is above and beyond is what sets us apart. It’s a perk to being a small business- keeping everything personal while still being professional is key.

Along with custom framing, Frameworks is an art gallery. We support local artists by showing and selling their work in the space and promoting their art in person and online. We host art receptions every 6-8 weeks and provide a spot for the community to view and celebrate art. Minnesota is full of talented individuals and it brings me joy to share their work with others.

My desire to promote other artists comes before promoting my own art creations, but I have been inspired by the artists I have met over the years and continue to create my own art anytime I am able to. I mostly use oil paints and have been painting the sky for the past two years. I find the sky to be hopeful and a good reminder to be thankful for each day. My art is an expression of my faith in God and is very therapeutic as I navigate through life.

Finally, giving is very important to me. I give as much as I can to local community programs, schools, and artists. When I became an owner, I chose to sponsor a child through World Vision for every employee I had and continue that sponsorship even if they left the company. I will continue this commitment for global change as long as I own it.

I run my business based on my heart; this may be foolish to some, but when I think about what I consider success to be and what I want my legacy to be, I don’t have any regrets.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The pandemic was hard in every aspect of life, including small business ownership. We had to shut down for a while which forced me to get creative in order to stay in business. We went to a website that had online purchase options, designed framing projects via email and FaceTime, did curbside pick ups and drop offs and adjusted hours once we did open up again. On top of that, I had my third child in April of 2020; a celebration of a new life while also fearing the pandemic. I remember being so happy and also wanting to protect everyone around me, so it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Like many, we made it through both on the business end and in other areas of life.
We have continued to benefit from online sales through the website. This has been especially helpful for our local artists, as we have shipped hundreds of paintings all over the world from online purchases; this maybe wouldn’t have happened without the push to do so from the pandemic.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The connections I have with people because of my art and career is the most rewarding part of what I do. When I create a painting, it’s to express emotions onto a canvas. It’s therapeutic. Sometimes it turns out beautiful, sometimes not. I don’t think about what other people will think of it, but inevitably, at least one person will connect with what I’ve created. I love that about art. The way others open up to me through conversations in person or online because of art is a testament to the power of creativity. Art can be life giving, life changing and an important part of my purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.frameworks-gallery.com www.mandymadsenart.com
• Instagram: @mandymadsen_creates @frameworksmn