Why did I become an artist?

Thomas Everett Matlock: My Father , Coach , and Artist

Some one posted this a week or so ago? I've thought it over and I guess you could say it's in my blood? My father was a Senior Master Sergent in the United States Air force and served 20+ years, retiring in 1970. While we were stationed in Ramstien Air Force Base in Germany he took lessons in any free time he had from a local "Gypsy' named Segoin. No really he lived in a horse drawn cart in the woods and some country side areas. My father learned to paint landscapes from this man and in time sold his art through out the 70's and did quite well with a family of 6. Granted my mother worked also but his sales were good. I grew up watching him paint as did my 2 older brothers who both have artistic ability. I drew as far back as I can remember. My brother Jim and I would get up on Saturday mornings at 6:00 to watch a show called Capt. Bob on public television. He had a gimmick of looking like an old sea captain with a white beard and a strong Rhode Island accent. He drew wild life, birds, bugs, you name it but with crayons and you could follow step by step with him at home.So there it begins? In grade school I seemed to have a better grasp of art than most other students and this carried on through High school, although I have to say I attended high school with some very talented artists!

College showed me just how many talented people there are out there. Pencil and Pen and Ink were my strengths, learning to paint came later. I found Acrylic paints to be my choice over Oils which was my dads medium. In the mid to early 90's I found my self layed off from a decent paying job that I really despised, (Federal Police Officer) but that's another story. So I decided to start painting different things .... weird things? surreal, fantasy, the kind of things that were hard to sell of course. I did many out door art shows during the 90's and I sold some .. My artwork slowly progressed towards Marine life, I then mixed in wild life and eventually New England themed Barns and landscapes and seascapes. My Father influenced me the most and helped me with the business side of art. As much as I love to make Money off my paintings and who doesn't these days I found recently that aside from the income I truly love to paint, I get involved emotionally with every painting I do, placing myself in the painting as if I were walking in it. My father passed 13 years ago but not before teaching me life's lessons, painting and art business. He also left me his painting easel. It's about 50 years old and coated in 2 generations of paints from he and I combined. I became an artist because I was meant to become an artist, Because I love to paint, draw, what have you.. I became an artist because I love it.

You can view all my artwork current and old at http://http://www.johnmatlockartwork.com/ please visit, look around and leave me a comment. Please sign my guest book so I may add you to my mailing list and monthly newsletter as well.

I thank you all for reading this far ~ John Matlock