030: Madison Orland
Madison Orland, a multi-ethnic Guamanian interdisciplinary artist, primarily practices acrylic painting and ceramic sculpture to traverse fantasy, science fiction, and the surreal.
“Enmesh”
Acrylic on Canvas
Madison Orland
Experimentation is key to her process, utilizing a variety of materials from traditional acrylics to unconventional mediums like foam from takeout boxes and even fire.
Orland reflects on the complexity of the artistic discipline, viewing it as a reflection of the artist's experiences and perceptions of the world. Her multicultural background, growing up in Guåhan with CHamoru, Filipino, and Caucasian heritage, subtly influences her artistic aesthetic and conceptual themes, blending organic lines, sunset hues, and aquatic motifs.
“Moosubi Box”
Underglaze and Clear Glaze on Stoneware and Deflocculated Slip
Madison Orland
Orland’s journey into art began with childhood drawings and evolved into a serious pursuit during high school art classes. While she draws inspiration from various artists and movements, she emphasizes the importance of staying open to inspiration from everyday experiences, whether it's nature, architecture, or a quirky family moment like her dad's French-toasting antics.
Her creative process is a dynamic balance between conceptual planning and experimental spontaneity. Orland tackles challenges such as time management and vulnerability in her work, striving for honesty and sincerity in her creations. As an artist, she sees her role as multifaceted, from documenting experiences to communicating messages and fostering contemplation.
“French Toasted Stool: A Step Up to a Good Morning”
Acrylic on Wood and Foam
Madison Orland
Over time, Orland’s artwork has evolved from clean and precise to more expressive and textured, embracing a looser style with a focus on color and texture. Despite the evolution, her art remains true to her unique vision, guided by a sense of playfulness and a desire to create from a place of learning and enjoyment.
“Sea Cabbage: Seeping Earth and Water”
Faux Kintsugi Stoneware with Cobalt Stain on top of Tenmoku and Celadon Glaze
Madison Orland
For aspiring artists, Orland emphasizes the importance of dedication, practice, and approaching art with a playful mindset. She encourages artists to invest time and effort into their work while staying open to exploration and growth. Ultimately, Orland’s art serves as a symbol of the uniqueness and multifacetedness of the human experience.
To read Madison Orland’s full interview, continue reading below. Also, follow her on Instagram to check out more of her artwork. Thanks again!
“Reminiscent~Epiphany”
(Installation at Isla Center for the Arts)
Madison Orland
Describe what you do.
I am an interdisciplinary artist, but typically my main mediums are acrylic painting and ceramic sculpture. My current work very much leans into fantasy, sci-fi, and the surreal. At the same time, I also like to keep my work grounded by drawing from my experiences and local surroundings. In terms of materials, I try to not limit myself and am pretty experimental. In the past, I was really into using wire, metal, and cardboard for sculptures. I tend to use what I have lying around the house or whatever is easily accessible. Recently, I’ve found I also like using foam from old takeout boxes and fire.
How would you define art?
That’s a pretty controversial question that even I don’t think I have a simple answer for haha. I am just going to bum off the definition I submitted to my professor when I took an art philosophy course. I defined art as a reflection of the artist’s interpretation of their experiences and their perception of the world, as well as a reflection and a product of the time the artist lived in. I believe that even if the artwork isn’t necessarily personal, it still has to filter through the experiences, influences, perceptions, and style of the artist. It can even be as simple as how I may interpret a color as blue and another person can see it as purple. I love how art allows us to experience these little peaks into the worlds of each individual. I think my definition is far from perfect because art is just so many things, and it's hard to encapsulate everything. I could go on, but I’m just going to end it here before I continue to fall into a rabbit hole.
Why did you choose your art form?
Acrylic painting and ceramic sculpture just clicked with my brain and aligned the most with my creative process. Both processes are what happen to work best for my current lifestyle and studio situation. For acrylics, I love how I can adjust my base drawing all the way until the end. It allows me to let go and be more loose with my approach. I also like how quick-drying it is. Every mark is permanent, so it is interesting to be able to see the interaction and push and pull between each layer of paint. For ceramic sculpture, I just love the natural earthiness of the clay. The material breathes another level of life into my work; it almost makes it feel alive. I never exactly know what I am going to get when I pull my work out of the kiln. Clay just has a mind of its own, and working around it is part of the fun. There’s still so much for me to improve in acrylic painting and ceramic sculpture that I want to continue to explore them. At the same time, I am always willing and ready to do something different if my concept calls for it or if I need to break up the monotony.
How has your ethnicity/race affected the type of art you make?
I was born and raised in Guåhan and come from a mixed ethnic background of CHamoru, Filipino, and Caucasian. I cannot deny the impact of growing up on island and how my culture has affected my artwork. After all, the influence of my culture exists, even at subconscious levels. In a general sense, I would argue that the entire visual look of my art, my use of organic lines, sunset colors, and aquatic inspiration, is very much the way it is because I grew up here. Conceptually, my work touches on personal topics and experiences. Therefore, that also involves my mixed heritage. I didn’t really intend for this aesthetic or to touch on these topics. It just sort of happened because of my experiences. My culture is just a part of who I am and my perspective, and it bleeds into my work subconsciously. I am who I am.
How did you get into art?
I was always drawing, even at a young age. I would go as far as to say that the pillow forts that I used to make as a child were my first sculptures. In hindsight, I for sure poured the same intense creative energy into making them as I do now with my current artwork haha. With that being said, I only took art seriously when I started art class in my junior year of high school. I think I was about 16 or 17. That was around the same time I started putting my work into art shows and competitions. I became addicted to seeing myself improve and haven’t stopped since then.
Who do you idolize?
I don’t believe in idolizing people because that is just a set-up for disappointment. My biggest inspiration, though, comes from Akishi Ueda, Antoni Gaudi, Chris Riddell, Hieronymous Bosch, James Jean, Jean Giraud Mœbius, Naohisa Inoue, and Odilon Redon. The list can go on, but those are my favorites at the top of my head. In general, I take huge inspiration from art movements such as Fantastic Realism, Impressionism, Surrealism, Symbolism, and Catalan Modernisme.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Everything and everywhere. Sometimes it can be from interesting shapes I see in nature, artwork, architecture, a wonky vegetable, a dream, a funny phrase a friend said, etc. One morning, my dad couldn’t stop French-toasting a bunch of random food we had in the fridge because he wanted that extra boost of protein. Because of that, I wondered if it was also possible to French-toast solid and inedible objects. Through this concept, I ended up creating my French-toasted Wooden Stool. Basically, inspiration is everywhere, so I always try to be ready to take pictures or write things down to tuck away for later. The number of photos I have in my camera roll is ridiculous because of it.
What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?
A lot of the time, if I am frustrated with an artwork, I shove it into a corner and put it on time out. I try to take a break from it and work on something else so I can look at it with fresh eyes. I prefer to work on more than one thing at a time. Keeps things fresh. On the other hand, when I am experiencing a complete art block, I go outside and experience life. I absorb as much media as I can, whether it be from other artists, movies, books, shows, architecture, fashion, food, etc. It also helps to surround myself with other people who are also pushing themselves creatively or in any of their endeavors.
What do you like incorporating most into your art?
In a broad sense, balance. Some of my paintings are pretty dark, both visually and conceptually, but I keep them lively with touches of bright, electrifying colors. Although I am far from amazing at it, I also love to play with color. Skin tones are especially fun because I like adding a few ugly or unnatural colors in there. Getting the colors just right is one of the most satisfying things. Humor is also a big thing for me. While I am working on something emotionally heavy, I tend to also make lighthearted and humorous things at the same time. The idea is to always have a level of playfulness.
What is something that you add to your art as like your signature?
Others have often described my art style as delicate and very feminine, but personally, I would use the word chewy or gummy. I notice I am most satisfied with the visual outcome of my work when I have this urge to bite it. It’s like everything looks almost hydrated and is coated in a layer of fat. I don’t know how else to describe it. I just love organic, flowing forms and intricate layers intermingling. It’s fun to get lost painting or sculpting layers upon layers of fluid details. It’s always been my favorite part.
Take us through your process for making art.
I would say my process is a balance between two approaches: conceptual and experimental. When I start with a concept, I usually write down a single word or phrase and then list a bunch of related words or things I want to incorporate. Alphabet soup on a page. Those words become images, and then those images become a composition, which I sketch or collage. Sometimes I skip the sketch/collage stage and go straight to painting or sculpting. For my experimental approach, I create with the mindset of allowing the work to shift and change as it goes along. The flexibility of the process is part of the concept, and I allow myself to surrender to it. Most of the time, my process is about striking a balance between the two approaches, so I constantly flip between the two as I work. The idea is to work with intention but also try to leave room for freedom.
What do you struggle with the most when making art?
Time management is something I always struggle with the most. What I think will take a certain amount of time always ends up taking double that amount to make. The ideation and research stage is also what takes the longest. There is a lot of back and forth. Finding and taking the right reference photos, figuring out how they will fit into one image, and researching my concept take time. I also often worry if I’m too on the nose or if I am exposing too much. It’s very vulnerable. It’s hard to find the balance. At the end of the day, I just try to make honest and sincere work. I feel like people have a way of discerning that.
What role do artists have in society?
Artists have many roles in society. I think the role of an artist is different from artist to artist. For some artists, art is a means of contemplation stemming from the need to understand ourselves and others. Artists also intentionally and unintentionally capture experiences and moments in time. Therefore, art becomes an endless library that documents many perspectives and lives throughout history. I find it very beautiful. Artists also communicate. They take a message and digest it into an alternative form for an audience. Just to name a few.
What characteristics do you think all artists share?
A sense of relentlessness. Most of the time, being an artist is just about having the willpower to create time and time again despite failures and frustrations.
What’s your favorite place in Guam?
Litekyan, I just wish there was a way to access the beach at sunset. Hikes are also very inspiring. The University of Guam ceramic studio is another one; I have many good memories there. In terms of more easily accessible places, sitting on the grass with my pets under my mom’s banana tree is always a favorite.
How has your artwork evolved over time?
When I started, I loved colored pencils and ink. I would say my art style used to be very clean, neat, and all about the drawing. I think I’ve loosened up a bit now, and my style has become messier and more painterly. One of the biggest differences is that I play much more with texture and color.
Why did you choose to become an artist?
It felt the most natural to me. Art was always the subject that clicked the most with me. I didn’t really choose to have this need to create; I just always came back to it. Art holds me hostage with a knife to my neck.
Is your art geared towards a specific audience?
I don’t really make art with other people in mind. At the moment, I just make what I like, unless I am working on a commission, of course.
Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?
Practice, and actually put time and dedication into your work. I know everyone says that, but putting in the hours was the only thing that made my artwork improve as a whole. A lot of the time, my art pieces come together only because I spend those extra few hours on them. Sometimes that finishing touch is all it needs. If you present and treat your artwork with respect, others will treat it that way too. Another tip that I find to be super important is to "Just play." One of my mentors taught it to me (thank you, Professor Rifkowitz). Many years later, the idea of play is still something I try to remind myself of constantly, even with most things I do. It helps me have the mindset to create from a place of learning, growing, and enjoyment rather than through the pressure of perfection and frustration.
