Today we’d like to introduce you to Madelyne Oliver.
Hi Madelyne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I “officially” started my business as an artist and muralist in 2022 when my daughter was born, kicking it off during my maternity leave because I didn’t want to go back to working in corporate America as a marketing automation and marketing strategy consultant in tech (which I had done for 10 years). I had been fully remote before COVID-19, but I wanted a career change that was less stressful and aligned with my true lifelong passion, which has always been art. Almost 1.5 years later, my company went through 3 layoffs in Sept 2023, and I was affected. Luckily, my business had picked up so much that I planned to quit to go full-time anyway. God and the universe truly had my back, as since then, I have been fully booked 3 months ahead and taking on more clients every day. I offer residential and commercial murals and seasonal window painting for business storefronts all over Austin and surrounding Texas up to Killeen, Belton, and Temple. I love my customers, who are primarily moms wanting nursery, toddler room, playroom, or office murals. I especially love my small business owners because we support each other, and I even provide social media marketing and promotion for them. Next, I have churches, schools, luxury apartment complexes, Airbnb, and Austin Tech offices that add color and branding design to their walls to differentiate themselves in the market or bring a sense of pride and spirit to their space. I also sell art prints, host Paint n Sips, teach art classes, host art therapy workshops (a Certified Art Therapy Coach and Meditation Instructor), and children’s book illustration (my second book is currently with the publisher). I know now this is my path, and becoming a mother opened that portal and pushed me in ways I could never have imagined to grind, hustle, and consciously choose this beautiful, artistic, creative life. One day, I hope to bring her into my business and leave it to her so she has something to stand on creatively. The world needs creatives and artists to shine. I teach her that daily, and my amazing clients also see that value. Together, I hope to continue to make the invisible, visible, and more beautiful.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been struggles. I say this: Paint gets everywhere and anywhere. So be prepared. I have paint spill in my car, get on cement on a client site, get on carpet on a client site, and painting every day for 4-5 hours a day takes a massive toll physically on your body. I must plan rest periods between mural jobs; otherwise, I’ll burn out.
I’m currently still in the overwhelmed, “I’m so buying, it’s a good problem to have” phase, so I am learning on the job how to be more efficient, more organized, paint faster, paint bigger (biggest painting is 81×42 inches and biggest mural is 25×30 ft) while wearing all the hats (marketing, finance, sales, logistics, fulfillment, shipping, teacher, etc). But that is honestly still half my time. The other half, I’m a single mom to an 18-month-old, too-smart-for-her-own-good, highly energetic, beautiful baby girl. Right after I was laid off, my ex-husband wanted a separation, so on top of getting my business going, I went through that. So you can imagine the struggles. All of this is challenging. All of it is hard. But I choose the entrepreneurial hard any day. I choose this creative life any day. I decide to show what’s possible for myself, my daughter, and my clients daily. And when I want to give up and cry, I fall back on my faith in God, my community, friends, and other muralists I know know this struggle. I pray. I meditate, journal, or do some yoga. I get right again because I have no other option. There is only a forward.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As an artist/creative, I am a jack-of-all-trades who does everything. I do canvas painting, digital artwork, illustration, small and large-scale murals, art therapy coaching, creative business coaching, marketing, small business marketing, children’s book illustration, writing, paint n sips, art classes, retreat workshops, art markets, art shows, and art competitions. And I’m a mom, so you know, that means I’m a tiger, and I don’t play around.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
My community. I consciously and energetically choose my community friends and put immense intention and value into my professional network. Years of networking in Tech and corporate America have taught me the strength and value of having a strong network. Even when I had a mini-stint as a tech startup founder, I learned quickly it was who you know and also the energy you bring. You will only win the hearts of investors if you, as a person, are worth investing in. And so over many years, I also worked deeply on myself, grew my emotional intelligence and my interpersonal skills, nurtured my creativity, prioritized my mental health, softened my masculinity, grew strong in my divine femininity, armored my spirit and soul with a healthy relationship with spirituality and God, and still to this day I love being a student always learning and growing. People see that, feel that, sense that, vibe with someone who always wants to improve and do better and, at the same time, make the world a better place. The biggest compliment I get when I finally get to meet my clients in person on the mural job site or at their business doing holiday window art, and especially at art shows and art markets, is, “Wow, your energy is so positive and amazing, it feels so authentic and genuine like I wanna be your friend.” When I hear that, I’ve made a true connection, an impact, and hopefully, a karmic ripple effect that will positively impact my business 3 months later. And that is the other thing; I am always doing 1 thing a day that will do something for my business 3 months down the line because 1) I am a mother and provider, so I have to pay the bills and keep the lights on 2) everything else is a long-term investment and playing to the long game, so I have to do at least 1 thing that is going to have a short term result. Again, I am a tiger mama. I’m always hunting for those opportunities.
Pricing:
- Holiday storefront window painting – $150+
- Murals – depends on sq ft and design/labor – custom quote.
- Art Prints/Digital Art- as low as $29 sizes XS-L
- Original Paintings vary – $3k+
- Art Therapy Workshops – Virtual & In-Person – See my site for event calendar
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.createwithmadelyne.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createwithmadelyne/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createwithmadelyne
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelyneoliver/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/madelyneoliver/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM_nxLycEOeUCJu4x2SEzng
- Yelp: Google My Business: https://maps.app.goo.gl/irjg8pjuHEWTmCWW7
- SoundCloud: Hire me on Thumbtack: https://www.thumbtack.com/tx/killeen/mural-painter/painter-create-with-madelyne/service/456258283732779024
- Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@createwithmadelyne
Image Credits
@camille.adriane of Camille Adriane Photography
