ArtTour International Magazine
Maribel Matthews
WWW.MJARTS.COM
“I’ve worked as a freelance illustrator for over 40 years with clients worldwide and exhibited my artwork in several national and international shows and one-man exhibitions. I have two illustrations in the permanent collection of the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, Texas.
I don't remember a time that I didn't draw; I began drawing 'seriously' in High School and intended to become a Technical Illustrator. Lack of planning led me to a degree in Architecture instead of an education in art. Distractions, such as 'lack of work' led me to an eight-year career in construction and a career with the City of Portland as a Building Plans Examiner, from which I 'retired' with a medical layoff in 1998.
But the dream never died... I've been a freelance commercial artist and designer for over 30 years, initially working on commission until 1998. During my college years, I exhibited my art in several non-juried shows but found little time for illustration until 1988, when a ruptured appendix and a brush with death caused me to re-evaluate my goals and priorities. I realized that life wasn't as predictable as it appeared, and God has given me the talent to be used to benefit others.
My body of work is fairly eclectic. However, all of my illustrations are realistically styled. My preferred media is digital painting.
I've illustrated seven children's books and two books for adults and created numerous illustrations for various clients, including Scholastic Inc. and the Yellowstone Park Foundation.
I work extensively with digital manipulation and photo enhancement; I also work with small-scale video production. In 2015 I added digital publishing to my business, publishing four titles in the first year.
My work tends toward encouragement or presentation of life as I would like it to be rather than a presentation of either a moral or philosophical message.
I believe that most people neglect to enjoy life's small moments, which often contain the greatest meanings. If there is a 'message' to be found in my work, it is primarily present in my art, and I have had the experience of presenting it to the viewer”.