Meet Madison Banks | Illustration | Animator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madison Banks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madison, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
During most of my college career, my work life balance was in its prime. I was taking 6 classes, which consisted of mostly studio courses; I was volunteering at an animation studio; I had mentorships and jobs, and still got eight hours of sleep every night and saved my Fridays for going out and/or resting.

But during my senior year, that balance crumbled. I found my projects slipping through my fingers, and deadlines passing before I had a chance to breathe. I slept less. I pulled the most all nighters of my entire life in those final two semesters. I stopped hanging out with people so much. I neglected my own health. Suddenly, everything I had been handling with ease before seemed like such a heavy weight. I had finally hit burn out. And to be honest, I am still recovering from that experience.

I work a full time job now, and still volunteer at that studio, but I found that I had very little energy to do much of anything these past few months. But I can feel a shift, a change, and finally the balance is coming back. I’ve gotten into a routine, and it’s allowed me to catch up on much needed rest and finally get my groove back.

My work life balance is all about consistency. Working the same days at the same time; having certain days for specific chores or projects. Compartmentalizing my life. And of course, having one day where I don’t do anything aside from lie in bed or hang out with a friend.

You need lazy days. You need balance. You need to be able to acknowledge that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Just because I could manage six classes, mentorships, internships, jobs, etc., doesn’t mean that’s what was best for my health.

It took me learning some really hard lessons for me to get to this point. My advice to all the students or struggling creatives out there: prioritize your health. The grind isn’t worth it if you run yourself into the ground. Connect with nature, connect with people, connect with your personal practice even if that means keeping a trashy little sketchbook you never show anyone. You’ve got a whole life to live. You don’t need to fit everything into your 20s.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am primarily a gesture sketcher. I love to go outside and doodle anything and everything I see. I love my sketchbooks, and am always more excited to show those off than I am the pieces I spent hours on. I also do 2D animation, and volunteer as the lead key animator at INSERT Media.

For me, getting to this point as a creative was easy….ish. I loved drawing and sketching, so naturally I fell into a daily sketching habit, which led to the confident drawings skills that got me the position as a key animator. But when I attended college during the Covid-19 pandemic, it made my chosen subject extremely hard to find. I had to scour the internet for references and videos that could supplement my life drawing cafe days. YouTube live cams of streets and zoos were my saving grace.

I love drawing, and I want people who flip through my sketchbook to see that without me saying a word. I really hope my lines and doodles and observations bring a smile to peoples faces!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, if we had access to a car, I would take her to Hocking Hills. We would go hiking on different trails, maybe spend a couple days there.

I would also take her to my favorite cafe, Gata Magica. We would go to the Book Loft in German Village, and walk the Scioto Trail (can you tell we love hiking?).

And I would make it a point to try something new together. When I visit her in LA, she always takes me to an experience that is unfamiliar to me. For her, maybe I would take her to a ballet. It’s something I really love, and something she’s never done before.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my friends from college. Without them, I wouldn’t be thriving. They are my rock, my cheerleaders, my shoulders to cry on. Especially now that I’ve moved out of my home state and away from my family, my friends hold me together.

During my time of burnout and frustration, they took me out drawing. They made sure I stayed active in my sketchbook, and didn’t put me down for abandoning my films. I truly could not continue as a creative, or maybe even as a person without their love and support.

So thank you, friends. You mean more to me than you know.

Website: https://madisonbanks-portfolio.weebly.com

Instagram: caravean

Linkedin: banksm1

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46_LZZ6h-KxGbs5-4SyHew