Meet Madeline B. Shearer | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeline B. Shearer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeline B., can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“I stood willingly and gladly in the characters of everything—other people, trees, clouds. And this is what I learned: that the world’s otherness is antidote to confusion, that standing within this otherness—the beauty and mystery of the world, out in the fields or deep inside books—can re-dignify the worst-strung heart.” – Mary Oliver, Upstream

Mary Oliver’s work is like a siren song to me. I have never found anyone whose words and ideas about the world resonated so in tune with mine. I have a handful of quotes by her that I tend to circle back to, but this is the one that I have been thinking about lately.

I often get lost in the hubbub of social media, whether it’s mindlessly doom-scrolling, trying to keep up to date with new trends, or watching my posts get washed away by the algorithm. It feels like I’m always two steps behind whatever is going on in the world. As a fairly anxious person, it’s so easy to get swept up in it all. Oliver’s work, but specifically this quote, reminds me to take a step away, to touch grass in a sense. It reminds me to breathe and focus on the things in life that I love so dearly: a cup of coffee in the morning, a Facetime with my mom, the fall of fresh snow, a night in with my boyfriend, and literally anything my silly cat does. Her work so quickly quells any sense of fear in me of falling behind.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m Madeline, an illustrator from the heart of rural Pennsylvania with a background in stationery design and a knack for picture book illustration.

I grew up with my feet in the creek, my hands in the trees, and my heart in the sky. I am so fascinated by and grateful for my wild and wonderful childhood that I have made it my career to share the curiosity and weirdness of being a kid. When I was a kid, it felt like anything and everything had the potential to be magical, there was always a creature of some sort hidden just beneath a rock or around the bend. That’s something that I don’t want to lose in adulthood. I want to find the magic in the mundane again.

My work today focuses on bringing a bit of whimsy back into the world. I am currently working on filling my picture book illustration portfolio with wacky heartfelt scenes of exploration and play. Picture book illustration, however, is a labor of love and it can take a hot minute to go from idea to publication. While that train chugs along, I have been selling my wares at local art markets. It is always so much fun to share my work and see that of others. I especially love interacting with people and talking to them about my work. It seems to me that we all still have that weird little kid inside.

For the folks who cannot get out to these markets, I am opening an online shop! I have technically had the shop open for a while, but I have only used it to sell my book Tiny Creatures of the Home. I now have painted wooden ornaments, prints, and stickers all ready to find their homes. I trust you will all take great care of them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That depends on the friend and the season! For warmer weather, I love a bike ride around the Scioto, a gallery hop in Franklinton, and a walk around Goodale Park. For cooler weather, a bundled-up walk around German Village to the Book Loft, ice skating at the Nationwide Arena, and then a cozy movie night at my place. As for food, there are so many great options!

Coffee: Fox in the Snow, The Roosevelt, Bottoms Up

Breakfast: Mercury Diner, Tommy’s Diner

Lunch: Katzinger’s, Asterisk Supper Club

Dinner: Rishi Sushi, Marcella’s, The Guild House

Drinks: Antiques on High

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe it all to my parents and our family friends the Mitcheltrees for raising me with such open hearts and minds to all of the possibilities out there for me. I was taught from a young age to be curious, and kind, and to always value and trust in myself. They gave me the foundation I needed to become who I am today, and who I will be. My family and my boyfriend’s continued love and support make me feel that even if I fail, I will never fall.

Website: https://www.madelinebshearer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbity_heart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-shearer-507885217/

Other: My shop: https://madelinebshearer.myshopify.com/ Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Emma McLaughlin Photography