I’ve waxed eloquently MULTIPLE times (perhaps too many) about the wonderful opportunities that have come from working on the Green Rider project, one of them being the new fans that have decided to follow my work.

(And no, I promise this is not another “I’m so grateful for the Green Rider post!” You’ve probably heard enough about it, so I’ll hold me tongue for AT LEAST one more week. After that, I can make no promises…)

Rather, this is an introduction of sorts. I don’t ever want to be one of those reclusive artists that fans have difficulty connecting with, because I don’t want anyone to ever think I’m this big, scary artist person who will stare you down with disdain if ever you have the nerve to speak to me. That’s the absolute last thing I want!

I want you to know that, yes, I can be a little too serious for my own good sometimes… but I can also be a goofball. I want you to know the things that make me a real person, like the fact that my favorite candy has been the same candy since I was 13 years old, because sometimes it’s fun to feel like a kid again and enjoy every last bite of that Nerd’s Rope.

 

 

So today I am sharing 15 facts about me that I think are some of the most important parts of who Madeline Shayne is. Here goes:

 

1. Shayne is actually my middle name. There are many reasons why I decided to go by my middle name instead of my last for my artwork, but I won’t get into that today.

2. I’m from Northwest Arkansas, the birthplace of Walmart and the Arkansas Razorbacks (Woo Pig!).

3. I work as an Executive Assistant for a tech/telecom company from 9 am – 5 pm. Every other time of day I work on my photography.

4. I have three sisters and one brother (he’ll make a REALLY good husband one day).

5. I was blessed with the opportunity to live overseas for several years as a kid.

 

 

6. There isn’t one “defining moment” when I got into my art form. My mom used to love creating portraits of my sisters and I in vintage dresses when I was young, and wherever we lived (because we traveled so much) there was ALWAYS a camera in the home. My grandma is also a painter and I spent many summer days at her home on Beaver Lake learning how to be an artist. I think these two influences blended together later on in life to create a hybrid art form that was distinctly different from what my mom and grandma taught, but still influenced by their lessons.

7. I have a nine month old Boxer puppy named Freya. Last summer my mom bred our family dog Eva and while I was back in Arkansas last August, Eva gave birth to NINE puppies (on my mom’s birthday, no less!). I was there when Freya was born and I absolutely love being able to say that!

Two months later I visited again for a friend’s wedding, returning to Boston one week later with a pet carrier, some puppy chew treats, and my little Freya inside.

 

 

8. Apart from the Green Rider project, I also am currently working on my own project/series, called Passages. You can read all about it by clicking right HERE.

9. I am pretty much into all fandoms except Star Wars. Sorry… but really not sorry at all.

10. I also enjoy designing and creating my own costumes and have done/will do so for all the images in Passages.

11. I went to Brigham Young University and graduated with a BA in International Relations (I wanted to work for the State Department, until studying politics actually made me hate politics).

12. My favorite movies include: The Bourne Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), How to Train Your Dragon, and most everything by Hiyao Miyazaki (but particularly Princess Mononoke).

13. Mac and iPhone user here.

14. I took dance from the age of 6 to 21. Don’t let that fool you, though. I’m a stellar-ly average dancer.

 

 

15. In my free time (hahahaha, wait… what is free time?), I love to decorate. For holidays… or just in general. I love making my house (and really everything around me) look pretty.

16. I have just begun to fulfill a lifelong dream of learning how to play the mandolin. Last week, I made a HUGE commitment to this goal… by spending $25 on a craigslisted instrument.

Ok, I may have only spent what essentially amounts to pocket change on it, but I am still determined to become a master mandolin player… in fact I can already play three chords and I know two strumming patterns (let’s pretend one of those isn’t just “down, up down, up…”)

 

And that’s me! Or at least… a little bit ABOUT me. I’m curious to know if we have anything in common. Share below if you do!