Artist Interviews 2025

Mad Watson  
By Laura Siebold



Mad Watson’s art is intriguing. The mixed media fine artist and aura painter lives in Las Vegas, but truly the world is her canvas. The artist combines paintings of landscapes with images of female power. In her work, nature and humans are juxtaposed, as they complement each other. The celebration of life and all its facets – anticipation, joy, passion and reflection – shines through in Mad’s art that offers the viewers a chance for recognition. Mad’s aura paintings define the second side of her work and emphasize her ability to spontaneously create and connect with her audience on a higher, personal level. Encouragement is Mad’s craft, so read on to discover more about this talented emerging artist and her mission to thrive.



Mad, you are a mixed media fine artist and an aura painter. What is the message you would like to convey with your art, and how do aura paintings differ from the main body of your work?

I have two sides to my art practice. My original body of work focuses on the celebration of life and my feminine experience in this world. I believe the world can be dark at times, and I want to create art that is full of hope, life, and beauty. My work is also a celebration of the arts—music, poetry, nature—because I feel that we are all creations, and I love to honor that through my paintings. I incorporate florals and elements of nature, as I feel most connected to my creator in those spaces. My aura paintings, however, are a more interactive and intuitive part of my practice. I sense people’s energy and translate it into my artistic language, creating an abstract representation of their spirit, their aura, their essence with watercolor. Unlike my portfolio pieces, which I create in solitude in a meditative state in my studio that can take months to complete a piece, aura paintings are immediate, spontaneous, and deeply personal. They allow me to connect with strangers on a profound level, helping them feel seen and understood. Both aspects of my work are connected by my intuition and my desire to help people heal through art. Together, they make me feel whole and allow me to express the full range of my spirit, my introverted self and my extroverted self.



You grew up in Las Vegas and studied at Milan Art Institute in Georgia. What made you choose this institute, and how has art education changed your career as an artist?

I chose the Milan Art Institute because I felt they would help me find my unique artistic voice while also teaching me the business side of being an artist—branding, marketing, and how to create a sustainable career. Unlike traditional art schools, which often focus solely on technique, Milan offered a more holistic approach. I studied online during the pandemic which was a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to fully immerse myself in painting and learning. The program condensed four years of art school into one year, so it was an intense and accelerated experience. But it helped me discover my voice and build the confidence to share my work with the world. I’ve heard from many artists who felt that traditional art schools stifled their creativity, and I wanted to avoid that. I’m grateful I chose this path because it felt organic and aligned with my personal and artistic growth. Art, like music or sports, requires practice and dedication. Even those with natural talent must hone their skills. My education reinforced that principle—quantity produces quality over time.



Do you identify as a painter or a narrative storyteller?

That’s a great question. I see myself as someone who celebrates life and channels my spirit onto the canvas. Each painting is an expression of my soul and how I want to experience the world. My aura paintings, on the other hand, are a reflection of others—I try to see them through the eyes of their creator and depict them with intention and love. Rather than a traditional storyteller, I feel that my work is about recognition—seeing and celebrating the soul. I want people to feel understood, valued, and loved when they look at my paintings.



How do you create a sense of connection to divine femininity and nature in your paintings?

I celebrate my feminine experience through my work. Growing up, I sometimes downplayed my femininity, thinking I needed to be more masculine to be taken seriously. But as I grew older, I fell in love with the softness, beauty, and strength of femininity. I now embrace those aspects—florals, soft colors, fluidity—without hesitation. I can love pink and still be taken seriously. Spiritually, I feel deeply connected to my creator, my Heavenly Mother, and Mother Earth. These feminine, nurturing forces inspire my work. Women are creators of life, and I want my art to honor and encourage people—especially women—to shine without diluting themselves for anyone.



Can you describe your creative process? How do you decide on a theme, color scheme, and technique?

Before I start a painting, I think about the person who will eventually own it. There was one piece I created with a woman gazing at the viewer, surrounded by a deer and a field of daisies. I later learned that the woman who purchased the painting saw her late sister in it—the same sister who used to go deer hunting with their father and whose favorite flowers were daisies. Moments like that feel divinely guided. My process starts with gathering references—silhouettes, florals, nature imagery—and creating a digital collage. Then I incorporate physical collage elements like poetry, sheet music, and quotes that I feel the future owner will need through intuition and prayer. I map out the image in pencil, apply texture, and layer acrylic washes, sometimes adding oil paint, gold leaf, or water-soluble crayons for expression. My technique is fluid and intuitive, always allowing room for surprises.




What was your first public art exhibition, and how has your career evolved since then?

For five years, I created art privately, hesitating to share it. I worked as a director for a children’s theatre for several years, doing art on the side. My first exhibition was at the Priscilla Fowler Gallery in Las Vegas for a show called Good News. I submitted Blooming Wings, a piece that marked the moment I discovered my artistic voice. That experience gave me the confidence to keep going. I decided to leave the theatre, I told my students the best way I could teach them to follow their dreams was to follow mine. From there, art had my undivided attention, I started applying to galleries and local art shows. One night at a slow event, out of boredom I started painting an artist friend’s aura, I have been able to feel people’s energy my whole life, but I usually kept it to myself because I didn’t want to seem odd. I knew her colors and explained them to her, she loved it and encouraged me to share this gift with others. I built up my courage and decided to paint a stranger's auras for the first time live at a small venue. The aura portraits had an amazing reception and deeply touched people. Because of this, I applied to a local artisan pop up market where I could do aura painting and sell my original artwork. I had a line of people waiting for their aura to be painted and I sold an original piece of artwork. It was by combining both my original body of work, and my aura painting that made me successful. From there I began saying yes to every opportunity that came my way. This has grown into a thriving art business. Today, I regularly participate in local artisan markets, sell out of my time slots for aura paintings at events, have amazing collectors, travel to major art fairs, and exhibit in galleries. It’s been a snowball effect, and my word for this year is thrive—I want to continue growing, traveling, and proving that artists can succeed.



Can art change our perception of reality?

Absolutely. Art is a powerful tool for healing and understanding. The act of creation brings goodness into the world. Art helps us process emotions, connect with others, and envision a better future. I hope my work contributes to that light.



How do the different layers and materials in your work interact?

I love working with different materials because I don’t like being confined to one medium. Sheet music, in particular, is meaningful to me—I have a background in musical theater, I love to sing, and music has always been another language of the soul. Music is a universal language, one that connects people beyond words.



What makes the Las Vegas art community special?

Las Vegas has an incredible art community filled with supportive, inspiring people. Two women, Nivia Bejarno and Ging Von Meijer, were instrumental in launching my career. Nivia created Arts After Dark, giving artists like me a space to showcase our work. Gingy encouraged me to try aura painting and apply to my first gallery. I believe in surrounding myself with artists who uplift each other, and that’s what makes this community so special—we celebrate each other’s successes rather than competing.



What advice do you have for emerging artists, and what are your aspirations for the future?

My advice is to create as much as possible. Quantity leads to quality over time. Don’t let fear or perfectionism stop you—just make art, even if it’s bad at first. I keep a sketchbook for “bad art” to release that pressure. Become friends with rejection, for every “yes” there is at least 10 “no”’s. Also, build a strong support system. I wouldn’t be where I am without the encouragement of my loving husband, my parents, friends, and fellow artists. For the future, I want to travel the world, be invited to amazing events to paint, share my art, find more collectors, and continue helping people heal and feel seen. I also want to break the myth of the starving artist—artists can succeed and thrive. That’s what I aim to prove through my career.