Life & Work with Mady Chen of South of Ann Arbor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mady Chen

Hi Mady, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had a creative side – I always loved taking elective art classes in high school, and continued taking art courses in college as well, though I didn’t have a focused study. When the lockdown happened in 2020, I found myself (as so many countless others did) going stir crazy with all the extra time on my hands. I ordered a number of crafting and beginner art kits off Amazon – I still have boxes of soap and candlemaking supplies I have yet to get through – and fell in love with linocut printmaking.

I taught myself printmaking through trial and error, and by examining other artist’s photos and short videos on Instagram. In the beginning I focused largely on making art inspired by some of my favorite movies, my two cats and the beauty of my then-home in the Sonoran Desert.

I vended at my first art fair in 2021, and was amazed that other people enjoyed the art I was making. The amount of art I’ve created and the number of fairs and events I’ve vended at have increased year over year – up from 4 events in 2021 to 24 in 2024 (including my first out-of-state fair). For 2025 I’m planning on going even bigger – my final day at my office job is this week as of writing (2/5/25) so I can commit to being an artist full-time. I’m even planning an out-of-state road trip to be a vendor at a fair in Tucson, Arizona – which is especially exciting for me, as that had been my home for several years up before I moved to Michigan to be near family in 2020.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, it’s been a fairly smooth road. There have, of course, been bumps and challenges but I think they have all been opportunities for me to learn and grow from. For example, not all events I’ve done have been successful, and some have even been a loss financially, but I’ve learned extremely helpful information from each of them that help me choose more successful opportunities in the future.

The largest challenge for me has been finding enough time to both create AND manage all of the behind-the-scenes admin tasks. Managing emails, taxes and coming up with the perfect Instagram caption can be difficult, but I’m feeling optimistic that I will find that all significantly more manageable without a separate 9-5 job taking up the majority of my day.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make original linocut relief prints. The thing that drew me to this art form is the crisp lines that are achieved through this medium. These are achieved by sketching on a linoleum block (though you can also create relief prints using rubber or wood) and carving away the negative space – all the parts that you don’t want to appear in the final image. A good way to visualize this is by thinking of a stamp (though I know some printmakers will absolutely cringe to see this comparison) – a rubber stamp has all of the negative spaces removed and once stamped on paper, the final result is a mirror image of what you see on the stamp. All of the prints I cart with me to the fairs are individually printed by hand, meaning I roll ink onto what’s left of the block, place the paper against it and apply pressure.

I specialize in single layer prints, though I am attempting to break out of my shell and experiment with multiple layers – which would allow different colors and depths to come through.

While I don’t think I’m a well known artist by any means, I do think I’m possibly best known for my “Fish People” series. I started this series with some pin up reverse mermaids – fish up top, people down below – and continued it with my take on a number of classic art pieces. Some of my favorites include “Fish with a Pearl Earring” and the scandalous “Statue of Fish” (think Michelangelo on that one).

I’m most proud of the development of my skills as I continue to pursue printmaking, and for the amazing connections I’ve made in the local printmaking scene. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and befriend a number of amazing fellow artists, and I’ve found the local printmaker groups to be incredibly welcoming and supportive of one another, which has been incredible to experience.

How do you think about happiness?
Most everything! If we’re talking about my art, I’d say the thing that makes me happiest is connecting with other people, whether it’s other artists or potential customers. I love when people stop by my booth and have a conversation with me about a piece that spoke to them, even if they don’t end up taking it home. Art is a great way to bring people together and to connect with others that you might not otherwise have crossed paths with, and I cherish those moments.

On the non-art side of things, I find happiness hiking, relaxing at home with my husband and cats, and spending time with my family and friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.appleandthistle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appleandthistle/