DPW Spotlight Interview: Monique Morin Matson

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Monique's painting "Caracal" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.


Tell us a bit about how you first started creating art.

I have always expressed myself through art. Creativity was encouraged through my childhood upbringing. My mother was an artist and inspired everyone around her to express themselves through art. So, while I do not have any formal training outside of my high school art class, art has been a part of my life since birth. It was in 2010, that I decided to develop my art into a profession.

Did you have any stops and starts in your art career?

Yes, of course. I am an artist, horse breeder, mother, and a wife. While I've always expressed myself through art, it wasn't until 2010 that I was able to produce my art with some consistency. Since then, I have been able to explore various mediums. In 2014, I was introduced to scratchboard by my son. Scratchboard immediately captivated my interest and I have spent the last five years developing my skills. Scratchboard is now my primary focus.

Caracal
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Monique's interview.


What mediums and genres have you experimented with? 

I have always been inspired by animals (and sometimes people). In the most traditional sense, the mediums I have explored are pen and ink, acrylics, watercolors, colored pencils, photography, and scratchboard. However, I have been able to use my creativity through a variety of untraditional mediums such as hand-decorated sugar cubes, custom children's table sets and horse jumps, and through the breeding of sport horses.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

As I have explored and developed as an artist, I've found scratchboard and breeding horses is my niche in the art world. 


Tiger
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring? 

I have yet to explore oils and pastels, but really look forward to having the opportunity to try them out at some point.


Who or what inspires you most? 

Color, nature and emotions are my primary inspiration.  I enjoy manipulating images and colors to convey or elicit a feeling for the viewer.

Dik-dik
(click to view)


What does procrastination look like for you?

Like most people, I find my daily chores have the tendency to distract me from my work.  My greatest challenge is learning how to balance my time between my art and my daily routine.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I work very hard throughout the day to make sure that I get my daily chores done, so that when inspiration strikes, I have the freedom to create art.

Tender Moment
(click to view)


How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I am constantly looking for subjects that emote. Typically, I use animal and people as my subjects. When I want to try new genres, I participate in monthly themed challenges put on by my social media groups. These groups have really pushed me to grow as an artist and try new things.


How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Inspiration is never far away. When I feel suck, I take a walk outside, play with my animals, and take photos of the surrounding nature. There is always something that will catch my eye, whether it be the local squirrel terrorizing my garden or the serene hummingbirds resting to drink from the feeder.
Other times, I just take a break for a day.

Patience
(click to view)


What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

As an artist, I am constantly learning and developing my technique. However, my current focus is on devoting more time to my art so I can produce higher quality scratchboards with more depth and expression. Additionally, I am learning how to promote and develop my social media and online presence.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am happiest when I learn that my art has positively impacted one of my collectors. Through the years, collectors have periodically messaged me about a piece that I created and how it has touched them or came into their life at the right time.

Harpy Eagle
(click to view)

Thanks, Monique!

© 2019 Sophie Marine