We were lucky to catch up with Matthew Mahler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Matthew, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
Bouts with artist’s block have (and most likely will continue to) plague my process for as long as I continue to make work. They often strike at what feels like the most inopportune time and stick around far longer than I’m comfortable with.
Despite the obvious challenge, the first thing I try to do is accept that a creative block is part of doing business; I’ve resolved to the fact that it’s impossible to be productive 100% of the time and that taking breaks is not only important but a necessary part of my process. Rather than resist, I’ve found it to be far more beneficial to, as hard as it may be, to go with the flow and invest any time typically spent making art on something else. A block can often be an indication that I’m on the verge of burnout or that I should shift some energy around in order to invite new ideas to form. Stepping outside of a routine tends to be far more generative than banging my head against the wall trying to force the work out. This is a time I try to spend with family, in nature or even tackling some of the other “general life” tasks that I’ve been putting off.
After completely submitting to the frustration of the block, and allowing the dust to settle, I usually try to experiment with new processes and approaches. This can be as simple as shifting tools or materials around or even switching disciplines. To be clear, these methods rarely tend to be “earth-shattering”, (we are talking about painting after all), but even a slight adjustment of tools or surface is usually enough to set me off in a new direction which is generally all it takes to coax a new channel for ideas.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m originally from Long Island but currently reside in Queens, NY. Having had two teachers for parents, significant value was placed on education in my home. My father taught art and every year he would take the family to museums and theatrical performances in Manhattan. I spent my childhood splitting my free time between drawing and playing sports, but it wasn’t until late high school that I fully committed to making art.
While pursuing a degree in art education during college, I decided that in order to teach art most holistically, I would first have to live it. I moved to Queens, and earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing. Making art serves to help me better understand the world around me. A process that is inherently time consuming, painting forces me to slow to a pace that often feels more manageable in comparison to the hustle of day to day life in a major metropolis. Ultimately the studio serves as a laboratory where I freely experiment with new processes and explore ideas that I find most baffling or curious. Recently, my work has come to reflect a shared experience of viewing through the lens of technology.
Feel free to visit my website for images and to get a sense of my process: www.MatthewJMahler.com .
For many years I supplemented my income working in the art world as a picture framer and art installer but ultimately transitioned to teaching art. At this point, I am a college professor and teaching artist both publicly and privately. I tutor students of all ages and abilities but focus mostly on working with students building art portfolios for HS and college applications. For inquiries, feel free to contact my teaching website at www.artportfoliodevelopment.com .
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?
This is a great question. Obviously there are so many factors that contribute to a person’s success, but I’d say, for me, that discipline/work ethic, curiosity and craftsmanship are three characteristics that have had the most significant influence on my path.
All three of these can be traced back to my upbringing. I’m fairly positive my parents never intended for me to wind up as an artist, teacher yes, but painter, no. They did however create a stable environment for my sister and I to develop.
I played a lot of sports as a young person and learned the value of hard work and discipline right away. I cycled through a number of sports before eventually pouring any extra time into lacrosse as a teen. My parents were supportive, but were definitely not overly invested in my personal interest. Being the oldest child, I didn’t have any older siblings to show me the ropes or clear a path for me within my local sports community and I earned my playing time through hustle and hard work. My lacrosse stick was practically glued to my hands between the age of 12 and 15 and I practiced in my back yard for hours even after practice ended every day. Eventually my commitment paid off and I became captain on a number of my teams. I credit my ability to focus and spend hours drilling simple skills to my ultimate success on and off the field.
TV time and time spent playing video games were extremely limited in my home. We didn’t have cable TV or a computer until I was a teen which was around the same time the internet was becoming a more common feature at least in our community. This meant that I spent my formative years, (up until age 14), quite frankly, bored. My parents can attest to this because I reminded them nearly every day. Luckily boredom leads to exploration which fed my general curiosity. I spent much of my free time outside playing with the neighbors, exploring the woods and basically looking for any opportunity to stay busy. I was generally a rule follower which kept me out of serious trouble (mostly) and I learned a lot by just playing around with whatever I could find. I’d spend days working on building forts or tree houses that would ultimately be destroyed by the next passing storm, only to rebuild them the next day. I’d say my genuine curiosity is what keeps me active in my studio to this day. I love a good project and have been creating art related problems to solve for the past 25 years.
Daily chores were a constant for us growing up. I don’t think they were anything crazy, just the typical make your bed, take out the garbage, clean your room kind of tasks. However, my parents were strict about our doing things the “right” way before being free to play. This attention to detail served me well when I started working as a picture framer where craftsmanship is essential. I stretch and prime all my painting surfaces, and often build the stretchers from scratch as well. There are no shortcuts and attention to detail is something that I believe, sets my work apart from some other artists.
My advice is to keep doing whatever it is that sets you apart from your peers. Identify your skill set and if possible, work at refining it. You may not know where to direct your skills just yet, but be patient and set boundaries. Compromising is necessary at different stages of your development, but be sure to stay true to your original goals and things should work out.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’ve been working on the current body of work that I feel is compelling and relevant, but hasn’t gotten much exposure. It’s taken some time but I’m feeling confident and would really like to see my paintings and collages make their way out in the world. I’d be interested in collaborating with anyone who can trust and see my vision and is willing to put a spotlight on these pieces. This might be a traditional gallery, design firm or other venue in the US or abroad.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.matthewjmahler.com
- Instagram: @MatthewJMahler
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mahler-128b712
