Art to me can mean so many things; it is difficult to explain or express how it makes me feel. Because I feel that art should always be evolving and growing, I am in a constant state of change as an artist. And I am always surprised at the end result of each piece I finish. It’s probably as close as I’ll ever come to giving birth, as each painting is alive and also directly connected to me. Each piece is also unique, and the experience of creating it will never happen again.

As I approach a blank canvas or slab of wood, I try to clear my mind of everything I think I know about art, life, and myself, and paint in a new direction. No matter what media is involved, which tools used, or how much time is taken to create my art, the final result is what I am interested in. If I am pleased with the result, and the work says something meaningful to me, and if the process felt natural and I worked in a new direction, the piece will remain. If not, the work would most likely be repainted, or used to create another.

In the end, my finished works offer not only an image, but also a record of a moment in time. Each work is related but also separate in feel, direction, and where I as a human being stood in relation to the world, society, and my own personal experiences. For these reasons, I embrace art as a tool for self expression and a means of survival of the mind.

As an artist I am in my infancy, and very excited about it. I am looking forward to seeing where art takes me in life, and am trying to keep an open mind to let myself be constantly inspired to create, admire, and grow.

- Matt Makela