Check out Annette Matthews’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Matthews.

Annette, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
As far back as I can remember, I was always doing something creative. I always loved to literally get my hands dirty when it came to bringing my imagination to surface. Whether it was paint, clay or dirt, I used whatever moved me. I was always into paintings and drawings, of which most of it I still have. As I grew up, I became fascinated with printed images my mom would always get printed. I loved looking back at old memories in the photos, and video film that she took even back before my sister and I were born. Once I held a camera in my hand and saw the world through that viewfinder, there was no looking back. Starting with a Kodak 35mm film camera, to a disposable film, then digital, SLR, DSLR and finally a full frame Sony a7ii, there was and to this day, never a moment that’s not captured by me… EVER! No one ever worried about a moment being lost as long as I was around. Printing photos is my jam! I have so many photo books and boxes of photos I don’t know what to do with. Finally, I moved to the beautiful state of Arizona, and with its beautiful landscape and backdrops, the photo opportunities are endless here!

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I like to tell stories with my images. At first, I was just capturing the moment just to capture it. But over time I started capturing emotions in people, the land, and architecture. When I moved to Arizona, my focus was to bring to life the beauty of the land because I wanted to see it in its state forever. Then I fell in love with capturing historic and distressed properties. Something about old buildings and homes is poetic to me. I want people to look back at my images whether it’s human or inanimate and be able to recollect the time in their lives of when that emotion was captured.

I also paint on canvas and/or draw via pencil art. Sometimes I’d take a photo then use it later for inspiration for my paintings. Most of my canvas work is driven purely off of my emotional state. I paint abstract because the images in my brain are scrambled, vivid and full of energy. Believe me, you don’t want me to attempt to paint a face on canvas!

And finally, I paint on actual faces. Using the face as my canvas was something that I started when I first moved to Arizona. I would go to the Halloween stores, after Halloween and stock up on the face paint at a steep discount, find someone who would allow me to get up in their personal space, and create something unique. I call them tribal designs… no particular tribe but just my own thing.

The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
I am actually working on challenges myself. I currently work a full-time job by day and am a creative by night. Until I am able to make at the least what my current job is paying me, I will continue on this path and promote myself, collaborate with other creatives and continue to put out great content for my followers to enjoy. Most photographers who have been doing this for a while and who are successful at their craft had to build up to having all the necessary gear and to gain clients. It takes time, patience and consistency. Starting out with one good prime lens can get you far in the meantime. For me, my go-to lens was a 50mm and a 35mm. I used those lenses for about a year before I was able to add more to my collection. Take your time and do what you can when you can as far as furnishing the equipment you need to get advance. All I can say is KEEP your eyes on the prize, stay focus and surround yourself with like-minded artists who are where you want to be! I am a firm believer that wealth begets wealth. Learn their practices and marketing techniques, grab yourself a mentor or become an understudy of your favorite creative. There’s a lot of successful photographers out there who are willing to help where they can. In the creative’s world, it is rare to find anyone in it who doesn’t want to see you succeed. Claim it, work for it, receive it!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work has been displayed in the lobby of my apartment complex, and I’m currently working with local restaurants in my neighborhood (Roosevelt Row, downtown Phoenix’s arts district), to display some of my canvas and photographic work. Follow my social media for updates on new work that I am working on to be exhibited and/or new photographs that I’ve taken. People can support me by following me and sharing my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annettematthews.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annettematthewsphotography/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/annettematthewsphotography

Image Credit:
Annette Matthews Photography

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