About me
Born in Brunswick, Maine in 2003, Madeline Walent is an emerging illustrator based in Newport, Rhode Island. She is pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a concentration in Illustration and a minor in Art History from Salve Regina University. Walent’s work has been exhibited at the Warwick Center for the Arts and the Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery in Newport, RI. Her illustrations have also been featured in Salve Regina University’s 2023 publication, Muse and Mercy. Walent produces commissioned work such as character work, book illustrations, and skateboard designs. Her work reflects a passion for exploring individual narratives, storytelling, and history.
Artist Statement
My work as an illustrator is rooted in visual storytelling. The stories I create center around personal experiences, and the story's characters often take shape as versions of myself. I enjoy working with themes of love and friendship and enjoy placing my stories in various historical settings. History has piqued my interest in traveling and studying ancestry. This has led my work to reflect on where I came from and where I am through researching my genealogy.
My work is often in book form, ranging from sketchbooks to fully bound and illustrated stories. My process generally begins with research in the form of films or books as well as photos I take while traveling. I then compile what will help me to develop a narrative and begin drawing from there. If I feel strongly about a work, I will continue it with a layer of watercolor or gouache. I treat my sketchbooks as artwork themselves. If sketches remain on their own in their pages, then they are still part of a larger body of work, creating their own story.