Madeleine Payne transforms from an art historian to a classical artist

Written by Lilli Donohue, Illustrations by Madeleine Payne, Photo by Madeleine Payne

SCAD graduate Madeleine Payne, B.F.A. art history, 2020, said she has made her way through the pandemic by focusing on her studies and studio work.

Since Payne’s graduation last spring, it is easy to see how her drawings have been informed by her studies. Payne said her main drawing medium is a ballpoint pen. “It’s the one thing I always had with me in my classes. There are no margins on any paper that I didn’t draw something on,” Payne said. She explained that she is most drawn towards portraits when creating art.

Looking through Payne’s work, there is no doubt that she has classical influences. Payne experiments with diverse models — age, race, gender and body types. There are also differences in the positions she chooses.

“[When drawing a full figure,] drawing bodies makes you lose face details, but you gain so much more,” Payne said. She has the talent to not only capture a likeness, but also seems to put personality on the page as well. Payne said she attributes her skills to a portrait drawing class instructed by SCAD foundations studies professor Benjamin Ward, which helped elevate her drawing game.

Payne said she often draws from life, but also enjoys painting from photographs. “Painting makes me take in all of the photograph. Notice more. I can be in it,” Payne said.

Lately, Payne said she has been exploring her family photo albums. This inspired her to incorporate distant relatives and old friends in her portfolio. She paints black and white photographs in monochromatic color. All of her figures feel very lively. Payne said she also has a series of paintings based on photographs she took with a disposable camera.

During the COVID-19 quarantine, she and her boyfriend traveled around the country by van. This allowed the pair to see family and friends across the states while having their own accommodations. Payne said she drew many of the people they visited and this added to the diversity of her drawings.

The experience also offered sweet memories in the form of a collection of portraits, including ones of her boyfriend’s little brother and other family members. Payne said she keeps all of these portraits in her sketchbook, which is also her planner, journal, notebook and much more. Payne said she usually goes through one Moleskin journal a quarter, which becomes a multifaceted academic and personal journal.

Payne’s future is just as interesting as her current artwork. Payne said she plans to attend Italy’s Florence Academy of Art in the fall. The three-year program focuses on learning from the masters, with lots of time spent at a local art museum, the Uffizi Gallery. Instead of holding space for artistic practice, the Florence Academy of Art gives students rules to break.