05 Feb Meet Madison Cartwright | February’s Featured Emerging Artist
This February, we are excited to feature Madison Cartwright, a talented 10th grader whose passion for drawing and animation is matched only by her curiosity and creativity.
Madison’s love for art started young. “I was always drawing or playing music on one of those toy keyboards,” she says. Growing up in a family of artists, with both her parents and grandmother creating art, she found a natural environment that nurtured her creativity. Animated shows and movies also played a big role, connecting her to storytelling through visuals from an early age.
Today, while she experiments with music and puppetry, her main focus remains drawing and animating. She tries to sketch a little every day after finishing her homework. “Even if it’s only for 15 minutes, it makes me happier than not drawing at all that day,” she shares.
Madison draws inspiration from many sources, but personal experiences top the list. “Art helps me freely express how I feel about my experiences without being confined to words…Words can be tricky sometimes,” she explains. Her projects often reflect these stories, with the hope that others may find comfort in them. She loves the freedom her art allows. “There are no limits. You can go as far as your imagination allows you, and that’s amazing to me. I’ve seen art that made me realize, ‘I never knew you could go this far with art!’”
Looking forward, Madison dreams big. She hopes to publish a graphic novel, create an animated series, and experiment with mixed media, including collages and mini-projects. While she envisions a career in illustration or storyboarding, she also values personal art forms like painting and sculpting. “Even if it doesn’t turn out exactly like that, I want art to be part of my future no matter what. I can’t live without it…It’s like how I breathe,” she says.
Being named Emerging Youth Featured Artist of the Month is a meaningful milestone for Madison. “It means that someone was affected enough by my art to consider featuring me, and that’s very special,” she says. Sharing her work with a growing audience has been both humbling and motivating. Her journey has also shaped the way she views the world. “Having an artist’s eye helps me appreciate little beautiful things…like the way sunlight sparkles on water or shines through leaves. Art encourages reflection, creativity, and joy in everyday life.”
Challenges exist, of course. Madison admits she sometimes holds herself back by over-polishing or striving for perfection. Her solution is experimentation. “I allow myself to get messy and try new things, especially in my sketchbook. I’m learning to embrace imperfection.” Her advice to other young artists is simple and empowering: “Don’t be afraid to start that project. You can’t spend time overthinking if you’re ‘good enough.’ Just make it, imperfections and all. You’ll improve as you keep creating.”
When asked to describe her art in three words, Madison chose expressive, organic, eclectic. She draws inspiration from a variety of creators. She admires Gekidan Inu Curry, known for their collaged, creepy-cute landscapes and characters in Madoka Magica. She is also inspired by the team LimboLane, who blend 2D, 3D, and live-action puppetry in their video games, and by Cartoon Saloon, the studio behind Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells, whose fluid animation and iconic designs left a lasting impression on Madison.
Outside of art, Madison enjoys video games, reading, and spending time outdoors. These activities often fuel her creativity, giving her new ideas and perspectives for her projects.
Madison Cartwright reminds us that creativity isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of seeing and interacting with the world. Her journey encourages young artists to embrace experimentation, follow their passions, and find joy in the process of making.