Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jo Mattison. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jo, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Creating art through painting has been in my blood since birth. I’ve been around a while now, and the two most asked questions I still get are: 1. Where do you get your inspiration from? 2. How long does it take to finish a painting? The first question is all about keeping my creativity going and flowing from my hand (and brain) to the canvas. The second question is hard to answer because the time it takes me to finish a painting varies a lot depending in size and complexity. Back to the first question, ss an abstract expressionist painter, I follow my intuition. I am guided by a feeling and/or an impression, but mostly it’s a whisper from somewhere deep within.
In my studio, I am surrounded by tubes and bottles of paints and containers of plasters. I am also surrounded by canvases, some blank and some with works in progress. I can’t let the distractions of worrying about what to do next to take the artworks forward get in my head. What usually works is not over-thinking. I just breathe and let the feeling of excitement that comes from within, a gentle nudge from creativity itself, take over. Then I paint without fear and second guessing.
To keep my creativity alive, I have to nourish it in many ways. By exploring the textures and colors of the world around me, like the way color and light play on water and the changing sky, I can find much to inspire me. These tactile experiences translate into the colorful, textured layers of my paintings.
But perhaps my greatest muse is the space between moments-the quiet times when I allow my mind to drift, unbound by the constraints of time and expectations. This allows ideas to form then simmer until they burst forth onto the canvas.
Each painting I do is completely original, no two are ever alike though some my be similar. Each one is a journey, telling a story all it’s own. Every time I step back from the canvas, I realize that creativity is a living thing- something that grows and evolves, just as I do.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As a artist, I am into visual arts. Not only do I paint, but I am into photography as well. Professionally, I paint large abstract, mostly color-field works to sell. I do lots of commissions locally and sell my art through designers and by word of mouth. To reach a wider audience, I use an online gallery called SaatchiArt. They are the largest online gallery in the world. Through this platform, I have sold pieces all over the US and a few to other countries. I have shipped art to Turkey, Canada, the Cayman Islands and Mexico. Lately, I am excited about having just sold several pieces of art through Saatchi. Also, I just completed a large commission piece for a client here in Dallas and sold another large piece to a collector in LA. This has boosted my confidence and inspired me to keep it going! It is so rewarding to know that others out there love my creations as much as I love making them!
As far as photography goes, as of now, it’s a hobby. It is another creative outlet for me that keeps me on my toes. I got into photography because I had to learn how to properly photograph my art. Once I had all of the equipment to do this I figured I would learn to photograph the world beyond my studio. I began taking classed and found my niche as a landscape photographer. I also spent several years on the Board of Directors of a non-profit organization, the Dallas Center for Photography. This opened up more avenues of photographic inspiration for me. I found that I love many types of photography such as macro, portrait and street photography. I am still learning and taking classes and going to workshops in interesting locales. At some point I plan to sell my photography, probably at first on Saatchi. Then we will see where it goes!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I feel that the qualities I have that most positively impact my journey as an artist are: 1) A really good sense of color and color relationships. 2) A strong desire to create, and 3) A fearless attitude.
My advice for people who are early in their journey is to stick with your gut feelings. If you really want to be a painter, follow that dream and don’t let others discourage you. When I went to college to study art, my family discouraged me by saying that I should study a field that would give me a career to support myself. They didn’t believe that I could make a living selling art. So, I focused on interior design and art became secondary in my course work. I wish I had not listened to them! I really didn’t have the motivation as a designer so, after ten years of that I went back to painting.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
“The Artist’s Way” book and accompanying morning pages journal by Julia Cameron, have been very helpful to me especially with regards to creativity. I have found it to be a valuable tool to get in touch with my inner self thus spurring on my creativity. By working through the journal part called “Morning Pages,” you are guided through a variety of exercises and activities that stoke your imagination bring new ideas. This really helps creative types break through the blocks that can hold them back.
Another book, “The Vexations of Art” by Svetlana Alpers is a very complex work but can truly make you think if you can get through it! It is based on a seventeenth century artist, but it’s thoughts and ideas are just as relevant today. The book goes into great detail about how “the studio is where the world, as it gets into painting, is experienced.” Mind blowing.
And on the more practical side and especially good for those just starting out, “Starving to Successful” by Jason Horejs is very helpful. The author is an artist as well as a gallery owner so he gives advice on making and selling art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jomattison.com
- Instagram: @jmattison
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoMattisonART
Image Credits
Peter Poulides
Martin G. Meyers
Jo Mattison
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