Conversations with Madison Busi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Busi.

Hi Madison, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve spent much of my life doing art. Next to my mother, on my own, in classes and eventually, recently, professionally. What started with painting pumpkin pictures for my children warped into a small business that makes block prints, stickers, notebooks, printed shirts and more. In addition to this, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to be a part of a number of shows in galleries around Colorado Springs.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’m not sure I could call starting a business in 2020 a strong choice. However, as I’ve always said, my children don’t eat based on if I make money this month or not. My art pays for itself mostly plus enough to donate to causes I find of utmost importance. No part of what I’ve done in the last two years has been anything besides a labor of love. That makes it all feel a lot smoother.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My primary medium currently is block printing. Though I always hesitate to call myself a printmaker. There is a whole world of printmaking that I am still aiming to learn. I began making linocut prints in 2020 as a hobby to occupy my time at home with two small kids. I carved silly flowers and things I thought my children would like. My teachers were the endless cuts on my hand and a few youtube videos.

I am always surprised to meet people in the edges of the art community who don’t know what block printing is. In essence, it is a form of art in which you draw a picture on a piece of linoleum, carve it out with knives into a relief. This is then rolled with ink and pressed to a paper one or multiple times.

Initially, I was playing with a few different styles. Recently I had a beautiful opportunity to be a part of a show at G44 Gallery. In a fit of hubris, I decided to lean into the world of reduction printmaking and learn this new style just for this show. In the end, the show turned out beautiful but what I am most proud of was the growth that you could see in the pieces.

Learning to trust my talent is a tenuous journey. I feel so new to printmaking, however that ignores the 20 years of art making that occurred prior to taking up the mantle of this medium.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The printmaker’s bible is a classic. However, my favorite is to just cruise all the various social media platforms and learn from as diverse a crowd as possible. Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube… All of these are fantastic places to find exposure to art forms that you would like to explore.

Pricing:

• A single unframed 9×12 inch print -$30
• $200 framed 5 layer reduction prints.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.madibusi.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/busi_artish