By Matthew Padilla -- The Silence of Afternoon Sunlight; Loneliness; 30" x 40"
oil on canvas... Scroll down to view more of Matthew's work.
Growing up in an art-centric city like Santa Fe, New Mexico, with similarly focused parents helped spark Matthew Padilla’s early interest in art. Although his career path after college focused on software and computer programming, he took night classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. Once he became a home-based father, he easily slipped back into art by seeking tutelage from private instructors to fine-tune his drawing ability. Today he prefers focusing primarily on figurative work combined with abstract, linear or geometric elements.
He is now part of Kendra Kett’s Collective Artists at the Blue Moon Gallery in Grayslake, IL. Kendra is the owner of the gallery and works closely promoting her selected artists.
What does he like about figurative work?
“It’s challenging,” Matthew says. “Drawing figures always seemed impossible to me – how to do it so it looks right, is not easy. What helped me best was abstracting the figure first. Once I did that I could move forward. The body is such a marvelous thing to draw.”
Matthew prefers creating his figures using live models.
“I especially like using amateur models because of the energy and excitement they bring to the experience,” he observes.
He can work remotely with models suggesting what types of poses he’d like but gladly allows the model to express a position that reflects their own artistry. He notes that models need physical stamina for the ability to hold a pose for anywhere from two-to-three hours.
He adds, “There is simply no replacement for an in-person sitting session with a model." And because he believes in lifelong learning, he has recently begun taking figure painting classes again as a way to continue improving his skills.
Although he finds the business aspect of the art world challenging such as marketing himself, he embraces the connections he’s making as an artist. He especially enjoys getting to know people who have purchased his art and fostering long-term relationships with them.
Because he describes art as an insular activity, he encourages other artists to be active outside their studio by attending gallery openings and receptions along with speaking to others about the art they're making.
“Nothing beats meeting people and making that human connection,” he sums up. “That to me, is the most rewarding aspect of the art world. The human part is so valuable creating an intangible connection that few other professions can provide.”
For more information, contact Matthew here:
@twentyfirstcenturyad (Instagram)
Matthew Padilla (Facebook)
Winter Abstraction no. 3
Bath Scene with Setting Sun
16" x 20"
oil on canvas
A Ghost in my Father's House
"And it's so late..."
32" x 54"
oil on canvas
The Mysteries of Love
Southwark, London
16" x 26"
oil on canvas
Memories of Childhood
A Perfect State of Mind
24" x 18"
oil on canvas
(SOLD)
Above the Piano Room
18" x 24"
oil on canvas
The Subtleties of Love
30" x 40"
oil on canvas