Title of Show: “Disconnected”
Description: Expressive and impactful works of charcoal portraiture.
Artist: Matthew Hill
“The essence of my artistic contemplation, I call "Disconnected," lies in the process of reclaiming myself from the shackles of the past and the uncertainties of the future. It is a deliberate effort to firmly root myself in the present moment, guided and anchored by the spiritual force within me, known as Spirit.”
Artist Statement:
In the wake of the recent loss of my dear friend, Jocelyn DoCouto, I have been confronted with the profound void and concealed pain that I've carried within me for countless years. The impact of her passing struck me with an unexpected force, hurling me into the reality of the present moment. During this introspective period, I've come to the realization that I am not navigating this journey alone. Others are also waking up to this feeling of Disconnection. Countless sense that their lives are meant for so much more. But how much more?
Death, rather than signifying an end, marks the commencement of a new beginning. Through this profound insight, I've discovered that life truly unveils itself to those who will sit quietly to contemplate it. The essence of my artistic contemplation, I call "Disconnected," lies in the process of reclaiming myself from the shackles of the past and the uncertainties of the future. It is a deliberate effort to firmly root myself in the present moment, guided and anchored by the spiritual force within me, known as Spirit.
Artist Bio:
The first time I was impressed by illustrations was during an elementary school art fair when I was 10 years old. The students were challenged to draw something related to one of the subjects discussed in art class. I can remember being amazed at how beautifully the illustrations in my history book were drawn. In that moment, I felt respect for art, but I was frustrated by my inability to draw a solid piece. My dad saw my frustration, sat me down, and helped me draw a picture of the Statue of David by Michelangelo. He taught me a few key things that would shape how I viewed the world that day: you can draw anything that you see, and everything can be broken down into simple shapes! From there, I took off with drawing, and what seemed to be difficult subjects were now understandable with these concepts in mind. However, my drawing time was, at best, sporadic. Doodles here and there with very few sketchbooks and supplies collected over the years.
A huge artistic influence on me was, and still is, animated movies and TV shows. From a young age, animation offered me more than just a fun way to pass time; they told incredible stories, brought out emotions, and taught me valuable life lessons. This medium for me was transformational; it brought me out of my small world into the wide and open sea of storytelling, adventure, and music. With the huge variety of genres and formats out there - the art form is almost limitless, a strength that many other forms of media lack.
It was really exciting as a kid to imagine making an animation like those I'd watched. Drafting characters and sequencing events, all to present to an audience that doesn’t know they need a good cry. The experience opened my eyes to the creative world. Without these early impressions, I don't think I would necessarily have found my current creative path.
In 2020, I began to take art more seriously. One day, I saw an easy-to-follow tutorial about customizing sneakers, and I fell in love. I told my mother about my excitement, and she gave me the money I needed to invest in my first art supplies. The connection was immediate with drawing. Even though I was simply following a tutorial, producing a drawing on a shoe felt magical. I continued to work with leather paint and sneakers for the next six months, mixing images of interesting characters I came across on the internet.
Somewhere near the end of 2021, I was struck with art block. I felt very disconnected from my medium because I was comparing myself to more accomplished artists. It paralyzed me from drawing, so I decided to make a change. I saw another tutorial of someone drawing with charcoal, and I was immediately overwhelmed with emotions. That day, I ordered charcoal supplies and started by drawing very crude, dark drawings over a few weeks until I finally decided to draw a portrait. I drew a portrait of Nina Simone, which my partner recommended I submit to a gallery that had a call-for-art. This changed my life forever.
My painting sold, and I decided to take art more seriously. My mother and father bought me an iPad for my birthday and I started playing around with the digital medium. It was so much fun to finally be able to work with a medium that allowed me to experiment. In that time, I have since learned the art of portraiture and I am continuing that self-training to become even better.