9-year-old artist proves cat’s meow in contest

Published: November 26, 2005 | 2833rd good news item since 2003

Madison Florance was in a cat mood.

She could have been in a dog mood or a horse mood, but she chose a cat for an oil pastel painting.

“I was kind of thinking of a black cat,” 9-year-old Madison said.

She painted him with a frown. A red sunset blares behind the cat and the girl in the purple shirt walking him. [The Art Book For Children]

The painting, completed when Madison was 8, received one of three Supreme Gold Awards from the Pentel International Children’s Art Exhibition.

The others went to children, both girls, in Allentown, Pa., and Little Rock, Ark.

More than 2,500 entries from the United States and 60,000 from around the world, vied for the top awards.

Since October, Madison’s cat on a leash in the sunset has been part of an exhibit traveling across the nation.

She received a certificate, a medal and some art supplies for her work, “My Cat.”

Her at-home cat, Jake, is gray and white.

“He likes to jump up on the chair and sits behind you and plays with your hair,” Madison said.

Jake doesn’t frown when he digs his paws into Madison’s long brown hair.

The reason her painted cat is cranky is he’s being walked on a blue leash.

It’s not the color. It’s the walking.

“I was kind of thinking because cats don’t usually like walking out on walks,” she said. “He’s kind of like, `Why am I here?’ ”

She knows what animals might think. She has four dogs, a German shepherd and three Shih Tzus.

And she lives in Corrales with her mother, Robin Florance, who owns stables.

Madison rides with her mom almost every weekend. She’s learning to jump. She’s accomplished about 2 feet so far.

She’d like to compete in grand prix show jumping one day.

You can tell she’s a risk-taker.

Visual arts teacher Annie Nash said Madison is willing to venture into a style and area that didn’t have to look like any of her peers’ artworks. [How to Teach Art to Children]

“She’s connected to her heart and not afraid to put it on paper,” Nash said.

Of course, she also says Madison thinks about overall composition and has a good sense of proportion and movement.

Madison said she likes art but it isn’t what she wants for her career.

Becoming a veterinarian for horses is her desire.

“I think you can draw anytime you want, pretty much,” she said. “You can never save a horse at the right time when you need to. So I think I want to save more horses.”

It’s possible to be talented and committed in more than one arena.

Madison Florance is all that.

Published in Kids & Teens
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