Close encounters with bears were not out of the ordinary for Madison Coulter as a child.
Growing up at Toad River on the Alaska Highway, Canada, with parents who were outfitters (which basically means they took guided hunts for us uninitiated Kiwis) provided a ready source of inspiration for Madison, who has always drawn.
Self-taught, hunters started commissioning her at the age of 10, one giving her $200 to draw his stone sheep – an elite horned ram, notoriously difficult to hunt. She went on to exhibit at large trade shows in America, where her parents promoted their hunting business, before moving to New Zealand at the age of 18 to work as a cook for an outfitter.
Madison met her now husband, Kiwi helicopter pilot Sam, fell in love and the couple lived a wildly adventurous life – alternating between the hunting season in New Zealand and hunting seasons in Canada with her parents.
Babies then took centre stage and Madison devoted herself to ‘mum life’. When she was pregnant with the couple’s second child she realised something was missing in her life – art. Throwing herself back into drawing, Madison discovered it was a key piece of her happiness puzzle.
Now living at Woodbury, Canterbury, with Sam and their two young children Olivia, 3, and Harry, 14 months, Madison’s stunningly detailed pencil drawings of wildlife are something to behold.
It was only recently, during lockdown last year, she made a pledge to herself to put herself and her art online. We talked about where her inspiration comes from, overcoming her self-doubt, and the leap of faith it took to put herself and her art online.
Describe yourself in 3 words? Creative, dreamer, soft-hearted (I feel all the feels, I’ve always been described as the soft marshmallow out of my strong, amazing sisters).
Was there a lightbulb moment for you? I’ve always thought of myself as a dreamer, but I now realise I’m more of a visualiser. I love Pinterest and have always pictured my life. The realisation I’m living the life I dreamed about when I was young. Helicopter husband, on a farm, living in New Zealand and I’m an artist. The only thing that’s different is I have a baby boy – I always thought I’d have girls! I think it was realising the power of visualising and thinking you can achieve everything you dream of.
What inspires you? My childhood. We grew up very wild and up close and personal with animals because of the hunting. I got to appreciate the detail of say, a bear, close up. In my art I’m aiming for realism because I’ve been there. My three sisters and mum inspire me daily, and rural women in general. What my mum did, raising all those girls in a man’s world, inspires me.
What’s your chosen art medium, and why? Pencils were always my thing, I like the control and realism you can get. I started out with graphite pencils and loved those, and the simplicity of black and white. It taught me a lot about form. About two and a half years ago I got into colour and that’s been the biggest shift for me. I was always really intimidated by colour – I didn’t think I had colour in me. I finally thought I’d try it, what’s the worst that can happen? So I dove in.
Favourite thing to draw? Animals, wildlife, things that are a bit tricky. I’ve always love hated drawing stone rams. I want to nail all the little details. Growing up, my dad always loved to look at art and we would go together and critique it – no the horns don’t curl that way, that sort of thing. I constantly drew them, trying to impress dad! I’m enjoying the hunting collection I’m working on at the moment. Hunters, they know their animals, they know what a tahr is supposed to look like.
Best advice you’ve ever received? One thing that sticks out is from an artist who mentored me. At those trade shows there were a lot of male artists, but she was a women who really dove in. She knew her brand and her style. She said to me ‘it’s your art, but it’s also you’. It’s the idea that you have to open up and share. If people can’t connect to you as an artist, and your story, why would they want your piece of art on their wall? Being vulnerable has been hard for me. I was nervous putting my art online, but I want people to see what inspires me, my day-to-day. I want to make art accessible and not intimidating. I like being able to represent myself, but it’s a real push to get over the anxiety of putting myself out there.
Advice to others on overcoming self-doubt and putting yourself out there? I feel like I’m still very much working through this, but I think if I’m not going to believe in myself and my dream, who will? If I’m not going to put in the work, who will? And how would I ever sell my art if I’m not willing to show anyone? It sounds so obvious, but I tell myself that the right person is out there for each piece. I need to let it be its own identity once finished, put it out there and know that if it’s not loved that doesn’t mean people don’t like me - it’s not personal. I don’t feel like I could give advice - this is always what I’m asking for advice about!
I kind of had a plan in my head, when self-doubt comes, of ‘I have five years until both kids are at school. In that time I could study and go a completely different work direction, or I could spend it building my art business and really give it all I’ve got, so that when kids are off I can either have a full-time art career a continued side hustle’. Try and it and see, and have a timeline. I’m year two and it’s scary to even say, but it’s really surprised me how positive this is looking!
Any daily habits/routines? Definitely coffee – caffeine. I try to wake up in the early hours so I can have time to sit and ohhhhhhh Pinterest. I love walking, it doesn’t happen as much as I’d like, but a walk or a run if I can. I love pottering around with the kids in the garden, I’m happy. I’m a homebody.
What are you reading/listening to? I listen to a podcast called The Goal Digger (Jenna Kutcher). She’s very American, but it’s bloody good from a business point of view. Also Boots and Bangles from Mary of 5 Marys Farms, she’s pretty inspiring with what she’s done and accomplished in her life. I’m reading the Seven Sisters series, very slowly. I love Nadia Lim’s seasonal mags, they are so good from cover to cover.
What does your dream day look like? Early morning, coffee, and it would be summer so I can go for a nice sunrise walk before everyone wakes up. Cruising around the farm with Sam and the kids, baking, gardening with the kids and, of course, art.
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