Mads Montagu-Andrews on Creative Explorations

Mads, a mom to three daughters and the founder of Studio Bust, where she creates bespoke sculptures that honor the female form. Though her work memorializes the transformative power of pregnancy, her days are filled with creative explorations with her children and spouse, ensuring that every little moment feels authentic.

Parenting often brings a level of seriousness to life. How do you transcend that seriousness and embrace creativity in a way that allows you to romanticize the everyday?

‘Thatʼs a key theme we definitely try and run with in our household. Both my husband and I love encouraging creativity. I think itʼs quite important, especially for girls, to grow up having a creative outlet, so that the focus isnʼt just on school results. Weʼre always excited to do little craft projects at home and often the whole family gets involved. I love a seasonal theme, whether it’s making decorations or handmade cards, I think there can be so much joy in going the extra mile – whether it’s picking some foliage or making everyone’s place names for a dinner. The children are used to and love being involved in all the little things.ʼ

How does your creativity inspire your children to explore their surroundings and express themselves artistically?

‘I find the biggest challenge with kids is to sit on your hands and not do it for them, there always needs to be an element of freedom when it comes to being creative. That’s been a big lesson for me. It’s about finding the things they can do safely and teaching them how to do things responsibly. My six-year-old got a penknife for her birthday this year that she was so excited for, which does seem a little crazy, but she knows how special it is to be trusted and that she needs to use it wisely (and with adult supervision! We try to encourage calculated risks wherever possible, which is something my husband was so grateful for in his own childhood. For me, I love having something creative on the side to escape to and switch my brain off from work mode. Often my projects have a deadline, which definitely forces me to let go of perfection, and I love showing my children the sense of reward that comes with making something yourself.’

How do you involve your children and spouse in your arts and crafts? When did you start this, and what insights or changes have you noticed through the process?

‘We always try and make sure that there’s some sort of element that involves them. We make Butter Toffee every year, elements of which arenʼt particularly child-friendly, but they can measure the ingredients, help sprinkle on the nuts, make all the labels and bag it up. Things definitely take longer but on slower day, especially in the school holidays, we love encouraging the kids to make their mark on things. Patience, however, is key!’

Why is it important to design your space and daily life around your aesthetic and creative needs? What deeper part of your soul does this nourish?

‘I am very much affected by my surroundings. I love looking around and seeing objects that tell a story and remind us of a trip here or time spent with family there. We collect fridge magnets with our children and they love that they can choose absolutely anything – often the whackier the better! Their playroom is full of colour and hopefully encourages play and creativity, whereas our sitting room, which is used more by me and my husband to relax in, is a calmer space, with plenty of greens and brown. I think that surrounding yourself with beauty can be comforting and bring joy and inspiration.’

What everyday practices or rituals bring the most joy to you and your family?

‘The hour before bedtime is normally quite a nice one. We try and do no tv during the week (which is challenging!) but it means we have an hour to decompress after theyʼve had their supper. Whether it’s doing some coloring, writing, practicing reading, having that family time is a nice chance for the children to share more about their day. From a work perspective, I enjoy the quiet the evening brings. Iʼm still at that phase of a young business where we work quite a lot in the evening and I love being able to clear my to do list, without the distractions of the inbound enquiries that come during the day.’

How can one preserve the passion for dreaming and creativity while navigating the challenges of growing older?

‘I love going to museums and galleries and being inspired in real life, but sometimes, having the likes of instagram at your fingertips can reenergise and inspire when you need it most. It has its positives and negatives of course, but I love stumbling across new to me things, which can feel less daunting and more achievable when youʼve seen it step by step.. only the other week, my brother and I made a dessert together, after weʼd seen something on Instagram and felt inspired to give it a go! Things definitely donʼt always go to plan, but I’ve grown up with the mantra ‘if at first you donʼt succeed, try, try againʼ.

For mothers who wish to explore their creative side more, what advice would you give? Where is a good place for her to start (especially if involving children)?

‘Start small! Weʼve loved decorating wrapping paper over the year. When they were very little, weʼd lay out a roll of brown paper and give them paint stick pens. They feel like paint but are a bit tidier and means they can scribble away. I do think itʼs important to take the pressure off these projects though and remember that they donʼt have to be perfect and that lots of projects that donʼt make it to Instagram, end up being recycled and thatʼs ok too! As my children have gotten older, a mistaken scribble can feel like the end of the world, so weʼve been practising creating magic and beauty from those marks. Sometimes, we sit down and start with a deliberate scribble and then they can try and think of what that scribble could be – whether it turns into an octopus or someoneʼs crown. I try to celebrate the imperfections as well as the perfections.’

Do you also need time away from your kids to continue being creative?

‘I think it’s so important that as mothers we carve time out for ourselves. I was reading something the other day that said lots of men’s hobbies and crafts are out of the home, whereas lots of women’s ones are in the home, where you can most often still be interrupted. Both me and my husband love having a project on the go – so take it in turns giving each other a few hours of peace and quiet to fully immerse ourselves – those precious uninterrupted hours to create are so recharging!’

Artwork by Joséphine Klerks