Meet the 2022 Artists
Billings Senior High muralist Madeline Thompson
Madeline Thompson – Billings Senior High School – 2022 War of the Walls Winner
Madeline Thompson grew up seeing the MasterLube murals and always hoped she’d have the chance to paint one. The Senior High Senior seized the opportunity this year, and created one of the most unique murals for the wall of the Grand Avenue store. Her mural was also voted the winner of the War of the Walls competition.
The mural depicts a cowboy on a bronc overlooking the Yellowstone River below with the Rims in the background. It’s monochromatic in black and orange with a bright, orange sun. Madeline, a Montana history buff, wanted to appeal to everyone not just Senior High students.
“I think every Montanan can relate to it in some sense,” Madeline said.
She first fell in love with art as a child, watching her mother paint beautiful flowers. Later, her art teachers in high school became an inspiration. Madeline was also inspired by a painting of Custer’s Last Stand in the halls of Senior High by Bud Luckey, who is now an animator for Pixar.
“This is my thank you letter to all of the teachers and people who inspired and encouraged me to continue with the arts,” she said.
Maddi wasn’t sure if the rough surface of the wall would allow her to achieve the look she wanted, but was grateful to find that it worked great. It took several days to finish.
“My favorite part of the process was when my friends came to help me for a day,” Madeline said. Maddi’s parents are Brian and Gala Thompson. After graduation this spring, she plans on working at their family-owned business, Rockets Gourmet Wraps, while earning her private pilot’s license. Madeline was also invited to paint a mural in the hallway at Senior High.
Billings Senior High muralist Madeline Thompson
Madeline Thompson – Billings Senior High School – 2022 War of the Walls Winner
Madeline Thompson grew up seeing the MasterLube murals and always hoped she’d have the chance to paint one. The Senior High Senior seized the opportunity this year, and created one of the most unique murals for the wall of the Grand Avenue store. Her mural was also voted the winner of the War of the Walls competition.
The mural depicts a cowboy on a bronc overlooking the Yellowstone River below with the Rims in the background. It’s monochromatic in black and orange with a bright, orange sun. Madeline, a Montana history buff, wanted to appeal to everyone not just Senior High students.
“I think every Montanan can relate to it in some sense,” Madeline said.
She first fell in love with art as a child, watching her mother paint beautiful flowers. Later, her art teachers in high school became an inspiration. Madeline was also inspired by a painting of Custer’s Last Stand in the halls of Senior High by Bud Luckey, who is now an animator for Pixar.
“This is my thank you letter to all of the teachers and people who inspired and encouraged me to continue with the arts,” she said.
Maddi wasn’t sure if the rough surface of the wall would allow her to achieve the look she wanted, but was grateful to find that it worked great. It took several days to finish.
“My favorite part of the process was when my friends came to help me for a day,” Madeline said. Maddi’s parents are Brian and Gala Thompson. After graduation this spring, she plans on working at their family-owned business, Rockets Gourmet Wraps, while earning her private pilot’s license. Madeline was also invited to paint a mural in the hallway at Senior High.
Laurel High Schools muralist Grace Negrette
Grace Negrette – Laurel High School
Even though she had the artistic talent, Laurel High School Senior Grace Negrette wasn’t sold on the idea of painting the wall at the Laurel MasterLube store. But after thinking about it for a while she decided that doing a mural for her class might be one of those opportunities that comes around only once in a lifetime.
Grace knew she wanted to paint a train, and at her mother’s suggestion, drew inspiration from a 4 Non Blondes album cover. The album cover helped her master the perspective that she was looking to achieve.
Grace worked with her family to paint the mural. Her grandmother was by her side almost the entire time.
“My favorite part of this whole experience was definitely the family bonding that took place while we painted,” Grace said. “There’s nothing like working with your family to complete a big project like this.”
Grace’s grandma is a painter and has always been an inspiration. From the time she was young, Grace would watch her paint. She wanted to be just like her, but as she’s grown as an artist, she’s developed her own techniques and style.
“Even though I do enjoy painting, pencil and paper will always be my favorite medium, particularly drawing animals and portraits,” she said.
Grace’s parents are Mario and Kristi Negrette. She plans to attend Montana State University Billings to study psychology and eventually become a therapist.
Laurel High Schools muralist Grace Negrette
Grace Negrette – Laurel High School
Even though she had the artistic talent, Laurel High School Senior Grace Negrette wasn’t sold on the idea of painting the wall at the Laurel MasterLube store. But after thinking about it for a while she decided that doing a mural for her class might be one of those opportunities that comes around only once in a lifetime.
Grace knew she wanted to paint a train, and at her mother’s suggestion, drew inspiration from a 4 Non Blondes album cover. The album cover helped her master the perspective that she was looking to achieve.
Grace worked with her family to paint the mural. Her grandmother was by her side almost the entire time.
“My favorite part of this whole experience was definitely the family bonding that took place while we painted,” Grace said. “There’s nothing like working with your family to complete a big project like this.”
Grace’s grandma is a painter and has always been an inspiration. From the time she was young, Grace would watch her paint. She wanted to be just like her, but as she’s grown as an artist, she’s developed her own techniques and style.
“Even though I do enjoy painting, pencil and paper will always be my favorite medium, particularly drawing animals and portraits,” she said.
Grace’s parents are Mario and Kristi Negrette. She plans to attend Montana State University Billings to study psychology and eventually become a therapist.
Billings Central Catholic High muralist Mikala Schuster
Mikala Schuster – Billings Central Catholic High School
Mikala Schuster’s mural design for Central High School is inspired by the famous Pop Artist Andy Warhol, and the bold design is in green and white – the school colors.
“I knew I wanted something a little different than previous years’ designs,” she said. “I wanted to bring back an abstract feel.”
Although she’d been looking forward to the opportunity to design the wall from the beginning of the year, she waited until this spring to start the design process. It took about three days to come up with the design and three long days painting it on the wall at the MasterLube store downtown. She started by sketching it out with pen and paper and finished the design by digitizing it on a tablet.
Mikala collaborated with her classmates on the design and leaned on her friends to help paint the mural.
“My favorite part of painting was being able to do it with friends and just enjoy my time with them while doing something I loved,” she said.
Mikala has been interested in art since she was a little girl and is inspired by the surrealism movement. Throughout her school years, her art teachers and her mom, who studied art in college, were her biggest inspirations. Mikala’s parents are Heidi and Scott Schuster, and this fall, Mikala is planning on attending the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee to pursue a degree in film studies.
Billings Central Catholic High muralist Mikala Schuster
Mikala Schuster – Billings Central Catholic High School
Mikala Schuster’s mural design for Central High School is inspired by the famous Pop Artist Andy Warhol, and the bold design is in green and white – the school colors.
“I knew I wanted something a little different than previous years’ designs,” she said. “I wanted to bring back an abstract feel.”
Although she’d been looking forward to the opportunity to design the wall from the beginning of the year, she waited until this spring to start the design process. It took about three days to come up with the design and three long days painting it on the wall at the MasterLube store downtown. She started by sketching it out with pen and paper and finished the design by digitizing it on a tablet.
Mikala collaborated with her classmates on the design and leaned on her friends to help paint the mural.
“My favorite part of painting was being able to do it with friends and just enjoy my time with them while doing something I loved,” she said.
Mikala has been interested in art since she was a little girl and is inspired by the surrealism movement. Throughout her school years, her art teachers and her mom, who studied art in college, were her biggest inspirations. Mikala’s parents are Heidi and Scott Schuster, and this fall, Mikala is planning on attending the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee to pursue a degree in film studies.
Billings West High School muralist Kaitlyn Landwehr
Kaitlyn Landwehr – Billings West High School
Kaitlyn Landwehr’s design on the King Avenue MasterLube is a simple mountain scene, with clean lines and a boho feel. It’s in the school colors, black and gold, but she said she designed it to appeal to everyone, not just West High students. Kaitlyn took six days to freehand the design on the wall.
“My favorite part of painting is taking a step back and seeing the full picture come together,” she said.
Kaitlyn loved art from a young age and said that her art teacher at West High, Ms. Wardrip, has been her greatest inspiration – and encourager.
Kaitlyn graduated in January and is already attending Montana State University Billings City College where she’s tackling her prerequisite classes before starting on coursework to become a radiology tech. Eventually, she wants to become an ultrasound technician. Kaitlyn was excited to have the chance to paint the mural even though she won’t be graduating this spring.
“I’m grateful I get to represent our graduating class,” she said.
Although Kaitlyn has her sights set on a radiology career, she isn’t planning on giving up art. It will always be a part of her life, she said, and this summer she’s opening up an Etsy shop where she plans to sell stretched canvases that she’s painted and embroidered.
Kaitlyn’s parents are Amy Kanning and Kris Rosager.
Billings West High School muralist Kaitlyn Landwehr
Kaitlyn Landwehr – Billings West High School
Kaitlyn Landwehr’s design on the King Avenue MasterLube is a simple mountain scene, with clean lines and a boho feel. It’s in the school colors, black and gold, but she said she designed it to appeal to everyone, not just West High students. Kaitlyn took six days to freehand the design on the wall.
“My favorite part of painting is taking a step back and seeing the full picture come together,” she said.
Kaitlyn loved art from a young age and said that her art teacher at West High, Ms. Wardrip, has been her greatest inspiration – and encourager.
Kaitlyn graduated in January and is already attending Montana State University Billings City College where she’s tackling her prerequisite classes before starting on coursework to become a radiology tech. Eventually, she wants to become an ultrasound technician. Kaitlyn was excited to have the chance to paint the mural even though she won’t be graduating this spring.
“I’m grateful I get to represent our graduating class,” she said.
Although Kaitlyn has her sights set on a radiology career, she isn’t planning on giving up art. It will always be a part of her life, she said, and this summer she’s opening up an Etsy shop where she plans to sell stretched canvases that she’s painted and embroidered.
Kaitlyn’s parents are Amy Kanning and Kris Rosager.
Skyview High School muralist Lydia Schwarzkopf
Lydia Schwarzkopf – Billings Skyview High School
Lydia Schwartzkopf took off in a new direction when she designed the Skyview High School mural on the Heights MasterLube store. She went for an urban feel with graffiti-style lettering on a background of watercolor splatters. A falcon, the school’s mascot, is in the center of the design.
Lydia isn’t a graffiti artist but turned to the internet for inspiration and to learn some techniques. She also follows several graffiti artists on Instagram, who also sparked some creative ideas.
“I needed to see photos because I’d never done graffiti before,” she said.
Throughout it all, Lydia’s mother helped by providing encouragement and inspiration.
“She really helped out with it and supported me through it all,” she said.
Lydia’s parents, Trent and Erica, have always been supportive, encouraging their three children to be creative. Two years ago, Lydia’s sister painted the Skyview mural, and it was her design that Lydia painted over for the 2022 design. Lydia said her circle of friends were behind her 100 percent.
“I’ll never forget their support. A lot of my friends were really proud of me, I’ll always remember that,” Lydia said.
While she’s certainly proven that she’s an accomplished mural painter, Lydia said her artistic passion is collage and mixed media. She’s hoping to do some commissions in the future. For now, Lydia is planning on continuing to work as a barista and pursue future artistic opportunities.
Skyview High School muralist Lydia Schwarzkopf
Lydia Schwarzkopf – Billings Skyview High School
Lydia Schwartzkopf took off in a new direction when she designed the Skyview High School mural on the Heights MasterLube store. She went for an urban feel with graffiti-style lettering on a background of watercolor splatters. A falcon, the school’s mascot, is in the center of the design.
Lydia isn’t a graffiti artist but turned to the internet for inspiration and to learn some techniques. She also follows several graffiti artists on Instagram, who also sparked some creative ideas.
“I needed to see photos because I’d never done graffiti before,” she said.
Throughout it all, Lydia’s mother helped by providing encouragement and inspiration.
“She really helped out with it and supported me through it all,” she said.
Lydia’s parents, Trent and Erica, have always been supportive, encouraging their three children to be creative. Two years ago, Lydia’s sister painted the Skyview mural, and it was her design that Lydia painted over for the 2022 design. Lydia said her circle of friends were behind her 100 percent.
“I’ll never forget their support. A lot of my friends were really proud of me, I’ll always remember that,” Lydia said.
While she’s certainly proven that she’s an accomplished mural painter, Lydia said her artistic passion is collage and mixed media. She’s hoping to do some commissions in the future. For now, Lydia is planning on continuing to work as a barista and pursue future artistic opportunities.