Michelle Maddox

Where are you based? 

I was born in England but am now based in Zurich, Switzerland. 

What were you doing before joining the Online Drawing Development Year (ODDY)? 

I have been painting for years, although recently have just finished an MA fine art. 

What appealed to you about the course? 

On my MFA, although I produced a body of work, I also spent a lot of time researching and conceptulising my practice, which has been good for finding ‘my place’ in the art world, however I missed hands on practice in a teaching environment and the RDS has always appealed due to the focus on observational drawing, which I think is a vital element to the progress of my painting. 

In the past years I have mainly painted, and although I think painting and drawing are not entirely separate things, I have focused mainly on painting from live set ups and developing my knowledge of colour and composition. I wanted to push myself and explore mark making through other media which I think can help me be freer in developing my painting language. I think we can easily get stuck in methods we know and a push from somewhere or someone can liberate you. 

Which courses did you most enjoy or learn most from? 

I thoroughly enjoyed the Colour and Composition course as it ties in to my current practice, but has also encouraged me to be more open to new ideas and new media. I find both Harriet Miller and Will Topley inspiring in their teaching methods too; they both add a very personal touch.  

I am also enjoying Drawing Theory with Andy Pankhurst. I like that he works alongside us so after the lecture we see his direct response to the slides we have also bee working from, which clarifies the particular skills we are looking at. 

Is there anything that surprised you about the course? 

I was surprised at the diversity of the students; there are a mix of established artists alongside people looking to improve their drawing skills for their professions such as illustration and interior design. This mix means we all learn from each other. I like the freshness of the work from some of my fellow students and find it very inspiring. I paint in oils so I can also learn a lot from the more established ink or watercolour artists.  

What are the benefits of learning online? 

Firstly, I am very happy to be able to work from my studio as I have my materials near me. I am quite established in my space and have everything to hand from brushes to rolls of linen, paper and stretcher frames. Secondly, I am not living in London so to do these classes live is a problem! I appreciate my contact to London having lived there for years and by participating in the ODDY I feel really connected. 

How has the School supported you (financially / educationally / artistically etc.)?

The tutorials have been helpful in discussing a way forward. I often have an idea on where I want to go but it’s good to get feedback from different tutors and verbalise the ideas floating around in my head.  

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about applying to the ODDY? 

Apart from being able to deal with the simple technicalities of Zoom and Padlet, I think ODDY is great if you really want to immerse yourself in exploratory practice. I think it’s important to be open to trying new things and not fear the struggle. You do need to commit to 3 full days a week plus the odd evening but it's very flexible so you can work around your schedule.

Do you have any plans for after you've completed the course? 

So far, this year has been a lucky and a full one. As well as being invited to have a solo exhibition at the The Albert and Melanie Rüegg Art Collection Foundation in Zurich, titled Michelle Maddox: Thinking Through Things, I have also had two paintings selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and one for Hampstead Art Society Summer Exhibition.  Applying for such exhibitions is always an anxious process and being accepted for any gives me a tremendous boost – there are so many wonderful artists out there and the level of competition continues to increase.' 

I would like to do a residency one day to immerse myself further in my practice, but ultimately, I will continue learning, painting, exhibiting, and connecting with people who inspire me. 

Follow: @michellemaddoxart

Find out more about the Online Drawing Development Year