Maddy Conover

Maddy Conover lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Maddy makes prints, ceramics, and loves to dabble in fiber arts.

Maddy is currently teaching an artist book, zine and independent publishing class at Tyler.

You can find Maddy on the web at on Instagram @madeleineconover or on her website madeleineconover.com

**How to procrastinate that project**
**Risograph, 11”x17” single page book**

Did you grow up reading comics, and did you have any moments in your life when you stopped reading comics??

I was never a huge reader as a kid, I loved picture books but had a difficult time making my way to the end of a chapter book. Apparently, when we transitioned from picture book reading to chapter books, I cried to my mom asking her where the pictures had gone. Growing up, we didn’t have cable at my house, so I always read through the Sunday comics. I always loved Peanuts, Garfield, Calvin and Hobbes…classic kid faves.

When I went to college and stopped getting the physical newspaper delivered every weekend; my comic reading also dwindled. It wasn’t until I moved to Philly in 2018 and discovered Partners and Son that I started again!

Have you ever felt embarrassed or ashamed about reading comics?

I never felt embarrassed because I think as a visual person, a comic can provide a pause from the everyday reading that we encounter in the news and doom scrolling.

Is there an important comic shop or friend who opened your eyes to comics?

Partners and Son in Philly is really GREAT. Whenever I have friends in town I always bring them there; I’ve also taken my students on a field trip here. It’s so nice to see how the space transforms every exhibition and I love that they constantly bring in new books.

**Slumber Party**
**Screenprint on fabric**
**Courtesy of the Fabric Workshop and Museum,**
**Photo by Carlos Avendaño**

How do comics inspire or inform the work you make?

I love graphic work. I am most inspired by line art and illustrative aesthetics. Whenever I start a project and need inspiration, I look to comics and kids books. Comics have a way of portraying a visual story arc in a similar way to a movie for me, when reading them; I love that “a-ha!” moment.

**Untitled work in progress**
**2 color risograph zine (made at Directangle Press**)
**11”x17” flat, 5.5”x5.67” (folded)**
**Picture credit of Salmon Run Gallery, by Andrea Barnes**

Have you ever been afraid or worried about making artwork that references comics?

I’ve never been worried or afraid about making work that references comics; but people have referred to my work as childish before which used to bother me. Now I lean in fully and try to embrace that inner child. I recently started playing with Snoopy motifs and I want to make my own comic-esque zine about my adoption from China.