Makayla Cardona

Makayla Cardona is a creative artist whose work is rooted primarily in watercolor, while also embracing drawing and experimentation across a variety of mediums. Inspired by places that leave a lasting emotional imprint, her paintings often explore sea life shaped by time spent snorkeling in Hawaii, mountain landscapes reminiscent of her upbringing in Colorado, as well as desert florals and wildflowers of the American Southwest.

For Makayla, art is both healing and transformative — a way to bridge emotions that cannot always be expressed through words. Her work invites viewers into moments of reflection, connection, and wonder through expressive color, organic movement, and deeply personal subject matter.

She was awarded the People’s Choice Award for her piece Breanna at the CAAA 2025 Carlsbad Arts Show and currently teaches art classes through the Carlsbad Museum and SENMC, where she encourages others to discover creativity as a form of personal expression and growth.