We were lucky to catch up with Marissa Madonna recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marissa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
When I was in high school, I felt very unsure of what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in life. I always loved to draw and create, but never really pursued it outside of a small hobby that I mostly kept to myself. After some encouragement from friends, I signed up for an Intro to Art class on a whim my junior year of high school, and immediately knew that I had found my true passion. I continued to work hard to develop my skills, and when I was accepted into Hartford Art School, I felt that I needed to work even harder in order to keep up with those around me who had been taking art classes for many years. As it turned out, this drive and incredible gratitude for the opportunity to study at Hartford Art School led me to many lifelong connections and has truly helped me find my purpose. As I continue to create artwork today as a professional artist, I am constantly thinking about the lessons and encouragement from my mentors, and hope to one day inspire new generations.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Marissa Madonna, and I am a professional illustrator. I graduated from Hartford Art School in 2012, and since then have worked on various projects including children’s book illustration and private portrait commissions. My work has also appeared on television for sports illustration projects with ESPN, first in 2012 for a segment highlighting Peyton Manning’s “Art of the Comeback” on Sunday NFL Countdown, and then again in 2016 drawing the trophy for the UEFA Euro Soccer Tournament. Some of my most recent projects have included creating illustrations for Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s yearly concert series “Tales of Halloween” with composer John Jesensky. Portraiture and storytelling have always been some of my greatest artistic passions, and I truly feel that I learn something new from every project and opportunity.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First and foremost, one of the most impactful things for me is drawing. I have always loved to draw, and it is truly the foundation of the work I create. I always begin a project by sketching out my ideas, and even later on in the process if I ever find myself feeling lost in the details as I paint, I remind myself to come back to drawing, and take things one step at a time. It is through the study and practice of drawing skills such as anatomy and perspective that my work truly comes to life.
The second is my foundation in traditional art techniques. My work is entirely handmade using a mixed media approach combining acrylic and colored pencil. In this way I have found a great balance with the boldness of paint and the fine detail of drawing. My greatest mentors really valued the traditional methods of drawing and painting, and it is also where I have always found my passion and am honored to carry that torch.
The third impactful thing for me is mentorship and support. One of my greatest professors from Hartford Art School was illustrator Dennis Nolan, who continued to be a true mentor personally and professionally even many years after I graduated. His support along with my other wonderful mentors from school, as well as the incredible support from friends and family, has truly helped me grow to be the person and artist I am today.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played an important role in your development?
I am actually currently rereading this book right now! It is The Ballerina Mindset by Megan Fairchild. I have always had a passion for ballet, learning to dance during my childhood and now recently coming back into it again as an adult. I find that the artistry and the discipline behind it is incredibly relatable to the work that I create, and often listen to dancer videos and interviews when I paint in my studio.
Megan Fairchild is a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, and has been one of my greatest inspirations and supports along the way. She offers so many great words of advice in her book, and one that I just reread yesterday that has always stuck with me was about honoring your strengths to help you find your own unique voice. We often judge ourselves and can get lost in the comparison to others, but if we really focus in on our own strengths and nurture them, we will actually find our own voice that is completely unique from anyone else – and ultimately reach our fullest potential!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marissamadonna.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissa_madonna_illustration/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarissaMadonnaIllustration
