Makayla Cardona is a watercolor artist whose work lives at the intersection of memory, nature, and healing. Each piece begins somewhere real - a snorkel with sea turtles, a mountain at sunrise, a field of wildflowers she carries home in her mind.
Art born from the places that stay with you.
Makayla Cardona Art
From the Studio
Every painting holds a story. This is one that's been on my mind…
ALOHA AND MAHALO
Find Something That Moves You
FRAMED ART
Makayla's original watercolor paintings, framed and ready to hang.
PRINTS
Giclée-quality prints of Makayla's original watercolors, made to order and shipped to your door.
CARDS
Watercolor art cards - small enough to tuck in an envelope, meaningful enough to keep.
ART KITS
Everything you need to begin. Makayla-curated kits for watercolor beginners and curious creatives.
About Makayla
I'm a watercolor artist living in Carlsbad, New Mexico, painting the places, creatures, and moments that have shaped me.
My work is rooted in the natural world - sea life from Hawaii, mountain landscapes from Colorado, desert wildflowers of the Southwest. Art is how I process the world when words aren't enough. It's healing for me, and I hope it reaches you the same way.
I was honored to receive the People's Choice Award for my piece Breanna at the CAAA 2025 Carlsbad Arts Show, and I love teaching watercolor classes through the Carlsbad Museum and SENMC.
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Makayla Cardona is a watercolor artist whose work is rooted in the places that have left a lasting mark on her heart.
Inspired by time spent snorkeling in Hawaii, growing up among the mountains of Colorado, and making her home in the desert Southwest, Makayla's paintings explore sea life, mountain landscapes, and the wildflowers that bloom where you least expect them. She works primarily in watercolor, while also embracing drawing and experimentation across a variety of mediums.
For Makayla, art is both healing and transformative - a way to reach the emotions that words can't always hold. 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 watercolor classes through the Carlsbad Museum and SENMC, where she encourages others to discover creativity as a form of personal expression and growth.
Learn With Makayla
I teach in-person watercolor workshops at locations around Carlsbad. No experience needed - just curiosity and a willingness to play.