Meet Madolyn Locke: Artist & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madolyn Locke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madolyn, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from Alabama. I grew up in Birmingham, but a good deal of my family lived in an extremely rural part of the state. While I have since made peace with my deep Southern roots, at the time I absolutely did not feel like I fit in, though I didn’t know why. As a voracious reader almost from birth, my desire to escape eventually led me to fantasy & science-fiction. I found worlds that didn’t conform to the one that was around me. I read about people who thought differently, lived differently, connected to others differently… It was extremely eye-opening, and the only portal I had to what was possible outside the closed community where I was. I discovered there were options… and I ran with that knowledge. The idea that what is ‘possible’ can far exceed what we imagine has informed so much of my art and the way I choose to live. We should never be done growing!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While I was involved in the arts from the time I could walk, I feel as though my artistic journey began the moment I realized I really didn’t like ‘client’ photography (weddings, events, headshots, etc.). Not to downplay the work – I have friends who are brilliant photographers – but it just wasn’t for me. The more I shot ‘normal’ images, the more I wanted to discover fantasy… make magic… create art. So I adjusted my focus to the art world. It’s absolutely where I want to be, but it is not without its challenges. As a relatively new art form, what I do doesn’t really have a place yet. To the ‘traditional art’ world, I can be seen as unqualified because I don’t draw or paint. To the ‘art photography’ world, I’m often discounted because of the digital work I do in Photoshop. It’s an interesting line to walk. I coined the phrase ‘Photo-Artistry’ in an attempt to define what I do, and as the field grows it’s my hope that we’re accepted and embraced by the artistic community at large. It won’t stop me from creating, regardless! I thoroughly enjoy what I do & have found a wonderful welcome at fantasy & science fiction conventions and art shows. These are my ‘people’, so it warms my heart that they love what I do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The top three places I always encourage friends to visit are: the GA Aquarium, Fernbank Science Center, and the ATL Botanical Gardens. Piedmont is great if you want a picnic, or especially if the Farmer’s Market is open… and no visit to Atlanta would be complete without catching a show at the Fox Theatre. I absolutely insist that all my guests (especially those not from the South) have a meal at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, and while I know that Krispy Kreme is the standard… I have to say for me there’s no better donut in the city than Sublime’s. Big Easy Grille takes care of all my creole-cravings… and honestly, I’m still searching for my favorite burger – though the vast options in Atlanta make it a really fun search! 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?
My best friend of over 20 years, G. Russell Gaynor, has been the catalyst for whatever I’ve done artistically. He ‘found’ me while I still lived in Alabama, and was the reason I moved here to Atlanta. He has pushed, encouraged, tough-loved, and supported me during every twist & turn of my artistic journey. He is a brilliant & prolific author in his own right, and always believes in engaging those around him. He wants everyone to find their voice!

Website: http://sylverlight.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/madolynlocke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SylverLight

Image Credits
(c) Art by SylverLight