Meet Matt Matsudaira

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matt Matsudaira. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Matt, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

For most of my life it was difficult for me to define my purpose. I had a misconception that purpose was a cross section of moral responsibility and what I could do well compared to other people. The truth is there will always be someone “better” than me, no matter what I do, so comparison is a fickle compass.

Throughout my life, art has always been a consistent pursuit, but in the past few years I believe God has used the selfless encouragement of my family, friends, and mentors to point out that my passion to create art might be something more than a hobby. I’ve always loved bringing attention to beautiful things around us through art. And if my art accomplishes this in a way that lifts people’s gaze up from a world that can sometimes be ugly, towards the Source of everything beautiful, I’m honored to call that my purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m mainly an oil painter of places. I also like to paint detailed wildlife and draw with charcoal, but I’m most passionate about places because they tend to hold the most meaning. My style is naturally derived by my desire to recreate the experience had at a place. I want the viewer to be taken back to their experience, and have no trouble doing so – so I utilize realism, but heighten color, manipulate composition, or alter perspective to trigger emotions that a quick photo cannot.

Commissions have been aplenty, but the business-side is really amping up. Archival quality prints will be available soon, and March 21-23 I will have a booth in the Emerging Artist section of the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Orlando, Florida!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

First of all, having a growth mindset was really important – what I mean is avoiding discouragement at “failures”, but considering each painting as a step on the journey; a lesson learned. I would have quit long ago if I expected to be successful immediately. It has also been really key to follow more experienced artists on social media, to learn techniques of the craft as well as the all-important marketing. Finally, saying “yes” to opportunities that stretched me, like taking on more commissions than I feel plausible, and trying my first live painting at a public event with limited time.

In summary I suppose I am recommending going for your passion full-heartedly, and sticking with it through the inevitable setbacks. Nothing good ever comes easy, but it’s worth the effort!

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client would be someone who had a special experience in a beautiful place – the more passionate they are about their experience the better. I want to hear about what stands out to them. What did they see, hear, smell, feel? It’s an honor to recreate the experience for them, and even more so to get to share in it through painting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mattmatsudairafineart.com/
• Instagram: mattmatsudairafineart