Famous Faces, Colors & Brash Brush Strokes: An Interview With Matthew R. Paden
We catch up with Oklahoma-based artist Matthew R. Paden and his Savvy Palette brand to discuss his award wining, evocative paintings and what every emerging artist should do when starting their career.
Matthew R. Paden is known for his expressive, colourful paintings and portraits; however, his body of work is united in its ability to evoke emotion and awe in the viewer, with precise details etched amongst broad yet perfectly executed brushstrokes.
Matthew R. PadenSAH: What does a typical day look like for you? Do you paint everyday?
MP: Yes I paint every day as I do this full-time. My typical day starts around 9am. The first two hours are spent answering emails, ordering supplies as needed and of course updating social media and blog posts. I'd say on average I paint about four hours a day. My last two hours are spent on marketing my work and looking for opportunities to show/sell. My studio is open Monday through Friday and I brand my work with the name Savvy Palette.
SAH: When and why did you become an artist?
MP: I have always loved art - seeing it, learning about it, experiencing it , and creating it. Perhaps, it is the unbridled freedom in expressing, and questioning the often-chaotic world around me. I paint because it feeds my soul when words fail, colors and brash brush strokes upon a canvas convey an understanding at a deeper level. Doing something that I love, something that allows me to explore, and be in the moment, to experience the world in a fundamentally different way - is such a precious gift.
Matthew R. Paden. Big Kahuna.
Matthew R. Paden. Brave, Inspiring Future.
SAH: What are you working on at the moment?
MP: Currently I am very busy hammering out four commissions. I have a client in Oregon who hired me to paint him a series of paintings entitled, "Inspired ''. There are ten portraits in this collection and I have two more to finish before the series is complete.
It's been a full year in the making. I am also working on a commission piece for a client in Oklahoma City that depicts the All American Rejects. He hired me a few weeks before, for a custom piece that featured The Clash - London Calling. I am also working on my on-going series, "Famous Faces," which depicts iconic portraits from the sixties, seventies and eighties.
SAH: How do you go about transforming an idea into a physical piece?
MP: Most of my work starts out as small sketches and studies. If I am painting a celebrity portrait which I do a lot of - I will also conduct some research on them to get a better understanding. I also study multiple photographs of the subject to really get a better idea of their proportions and the features that make up their face.
Matthew R. Paden. Charlie Chaplin.
SAH: What kind of impact do you hope that your work has?
MP: I will always strive to create art that sparks conversation, captivates the senses, and most importantly, questions the value we place on the superficial. Over the course of my career, I hope to continue showing my work in galleries; however, I must state that fostering direct relationships with my collectors and giving back to the community is a strong priority.
SAH: You’ve a very distinct style, which five words would you use to describe your practice?
MP: I paint in a contemporary abstract style known as Spontaneous Realism. I would describe it as bold, vivid and dynamic. It is meant to be highly expressive and unnatural. This style was created by Voka back in early 2012. It has since caught on and is becoming a strong art movement which I do feel is important as art movements in general don't really exist these days. I have a few blog posts about this for those who may be interested.
SAH: Who are your biggest influences? Is there a particular artist that inspired you to pursue art?
MP: My biggest influences would of course have to be Walt Disney. Outside of the animation field though I would say Pablo Picasso. Since 2017 when I discovered Spontaneous Realism I would say Voka.
Matthew R. Paden. Pet Portrait.
Art school vs self-thought, what’s your thought?
MP: I went to art school in Arizona from 2001 to 2004. There are some good things and not so good about attending professional art school. On the good side you get to meet and work with professional artists as your instructors and the bad side of course - private art school is very expensive and makes it unattainable for most. I wish there were better options available. Maybe someday there will be.
I also studied and practiced art my entire life too. Art and painting is my life's passion and I say if an artist is serious about their craft and knows how to market themselves they don't necessarily need a school to launch a career.
It can be a tricky-tight rope though. Where I see most independent artists fail is when it comes to marketing and the business aspects of being an artist. I spend more time on my business and marketing my brand than I do actually painting.
SAH: Which art career achievement are you most proud of?
MP: My most accomplished achievement to date would be when my painting, "Victory Touchdown" took first place in the state of Oregon back in 1997. It then went on to be displayed in the Nation's Capital for a year. This of course opened a few doors and allowed me to pursue my dream.
Matthew R. Paden. Survivor.
SAH: Where can people purchase your work?
MP: My work is available on my site at www.savvypalette.com. I just wrapped up a month-long exhibition at a gallery in Oklahoma City. I am also looking forward to an upcoming show this spring at a gallery in Texas. My work has been bought by collectors in Oregon, California, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
SAH: How do you seek out opportunities?
MP: I seek out opportunities by searching Google and like most artists submitting work to shows and events. It can be a grueling process that is not always easy. I also self-market via my blog, email and website. Social media like my Instagram @savvypalette play huge roles in acquiring art opportunities.
SAH: What advice would you give somebody who has just started their artistic career?
MP: My advice to a new artist is to never give up. You will face lots of rejection especially early on in your career and of course it's no fun, but you have to form a tough skin in order to be a successful independent artist. The highs and lows are vast and the journey will be rough at times. But if the passion in your soul is there, follow your dreams and don't allow anyone to deter your path.
Of course read and study art and learn some of the history behind it. Best advice I can give a new artist is to become business savvy. The more you understand how the business side works the better off you will be in your art journey.