Artist Statement—Matt Philleo

Although I did an intro post, seeing that I am an artist and that's my occupation and passion, I think I should share my artist statement with you all! I'm tagging this as #artiststatement so if there's any artists out there who want to use this tag and we can start a new thread going on Steemit, you're more than welcome!

Okay, here's my artist statement:

I create art to comfort, encourage and inspire. In our present era, with increasing crime, scandals, and a wall of isolation erected by too much dependence on technology, the need for encouragement is greater than ever. I don't look at the world with myopic, rose-colored glasses, pretending everything is perfect.

I go through trials, difficulties, and personal struggles and so do you.

During these times of despair, I reach out to God for help like the ancient Psalmists did, and eventually light arises in the darkness. After experiencing the breakthrough, I have an overwhelming desire to share this joy with others so they can be encouraged too. For me, art is the most natural way to do this.

Ever since I was a child, I have loved to draw and paint people. I especially love to capture emotion through facial expressions and body gesture.

In my paintings, the people interact with God and with each other in relationships where truth, love, compassion, trust, hope, forgiveness, perseverance, and dignity are practiced. In highlighting these virtues, and the often the struggle to obtain them, I hope to create a dialogue with the viewer, to instill a desire for something greater, and to demonstrate God's loving care in times of sorrow and need.

God's greatest gift of love is revealed through His Son Jesus, and what He did for us on the cross, by being punished for our sins with His death, and rising again to give us new life. There is no greater encouragement than to receive the unconditional love and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ! I have experienced this in my life and it informs everything I do, including the artwork I create.

My medium of choice, since being introduced to it in high school art classes, is acrylic paint. I appreciate its quick drying time and low toxicity. Using a centuries-old glazing technique, I mix the paint with a clear acrylic medium and apply layer upon layer translucently, which allows the white surface of the canvas to reflect through. The result is a colorful, vibrant surface.

For example, in one my portraits, for a gentleman's suit, I applied burnt umber brown, ultramarine blue, and alizarine crimson methodically, in a series of fifteen to twenty layers, to build up the final color of black. This uniquely-composed black has much more richness and depth than using black straight out of the tube.

When doing narrative or concept-based artwork, my inspiration comes from various sources: Sometimes it can come from a passage of Scripture during my daily reading. Sometimes it can come from a sermon by the pastor, or a thought I have while going on a walk.

But just as often I am inspired by my relationships with others, especially my children. They teach me so much about the way God sees me and how having a simple trust in Him brings delight to His heart.

Once an idea for a painting comes to mind, I quickly record in it my journal. Next, I begin to sketch it and prepare a photo session so that I have realistic references to draw from. Typically, friends, family members are my models and, like a play director, I ask them to “act out” in a still version the various scenes I will depict later on canvas. The resulting photos then become the basis for my painting.

Finally, after completing a well-defined sketch, I begin the actual painting process. Before and during a studio session, I pray, asking God to help me capture the beauty of the people I'm painting and convey an idea that will encourage the viewers, hopefully drawing them closer to Himself. I paint in a detailed, representational style so that my artwork can be easily understood by a viewer of any background or education level.

Although many artists may elevate the process over the finished product, I feel the actual finished product is more important. If the final painting is of an excellent quality, then it means a productive, orderly process was necessary to achieve that end result.

In that way, the process serves the end goal: a great work of art. I enjoy painting; however, it is still hard work. In the long run, it is the finished piece and the positive impact it has on the viewer that brings me joy and makes the long hours invested into it worthwhile.