East Valley’s Haley Madison wins state, national art awards

Haley Madison will become familiar with a couple of Washington capitols – in Olympia and D.C. – thanks to her art.

The East Valley senior won the 5th District’s Congressional Art Competition, plus state awards.

Her pencil drawing of herself with Maddy, her Australian shepherd, will hang at the U.S. Capitol alongside other winners of the Congressional Art Competition. “Rest in Peace” was drawn shortly after Maddy died.

“She’s a good dog,” Madison, 18, said, looking on her phone at a picture of the drawing, which is on its way to D.C.

This is the third year in a row an East Valley student has won the 5th District competition. Last year, Kaitlyn Sabie won – she took second this year. And in 2012, Emily Harris won.

“Rest in Peace” was selected by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

“I am proud to have Haley’s artwork represent Eastern Washington in our nation’s Capitol,” McMorris Rodgers said in a statement. “This competition provides a wonderful opportunity for young people in our community to display their artistic talent and have their work showcased to the thousands of people who visit our Capitol each year.”

Madison will be one of those people visiting the Capitol soon. She’s been invited to attend a reception for the artists.

“This is definitely my big year,” she said. Along with the honors she’s received for “Rest in Peace,” she’s also taken home prizes for an acrylic painting of a tiger at Cat Tales, “In the Eyes of Captivity.”

At NEWESD 101, the painting won Judges Choice, Superintendent’s Choice and first place. The painting went on to the 41st annual Superintendent’s High School Art Show, where it was given the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Staff Award. She’s been invited to a reception in Olympia and “In the Eyes of Captivity” will hang in the state Capitol.

“I’ve drawn ever since I was little,” she said. She took art for the first time from her current art teacher, Pat Taylor, when she was in seventh grade, but she wasn’t sure it was for her. During her sophomore year, she went back to art class and painted a picture of her violin.

Her favorite medium is acrylic paint, and she loves painting things in nature or animals. She’s been working on a commissioned painting of a barn for her boss in the West Valley School District Maintenance and Technology Department. She’s also been known to draw tattoos for family members and friends.

The thing she loves the most about her artwork is “the feeling it gives me when I get an idea and I finish the piece.”

Madison plays the violin and the piano, is interested in photography and takes AP classes. She’s been accepted at Washington State University, where she plans to be in the orchestra, minor in art and study to get into the medical field, probably some sort of laboratory medicine.

She’ll be busy, but art remains special to her.

“I know it’s going to be one of my hobbies for, like, ever,” Madison said.