This month is all about nature, so it seems fitting to discuss an artist who paints on wood.
Matt Beyrer is an artist with an interesting background. He became interested in art when he was bedbound in 8th grade after being bitten by a 7-8 foot Hammerhead Shark. It was then that he was introduced to the work of Bob Ross and became interested in painting himself. He founded the art form called "Natural Expressionism" where he paints his image on wood, using the grain pattern to inform what his piece will become. All of his art is painted on wood, and the ones that are part of a series are called a Caldograph. This is an interesting form of art where ink is placed on paper and then using heat and pressure transferred to a wood panel that has a special coating to allow the ink to adhere.
Now, let us take a look at several of his Caldographs.
This first one is Midnight Rider. What I like the most about this one is how he uses shades of blue to complete most of this one, other than that one little patch of yellow. I find it amazing how he can add so much depth while still allowing the veins of the wood to peak through the image. Many artists will add multiple layers of paint to add depth, but here is a version that has depth but still looks like one layer.
This next image is called Sail into the Horizon. I love that this is kinda a contrast to the previous and mainly uses reds and yellows to create this piece.
Similar to the previous image Wait and the Sea uses reds and yellows but in the previous image the yellows were more pronounced and in this image the reds are more pronounced.
Remember the Time is a beautiful image that is able to show his skill with using color while also allowing you to see the wood grain even with all of the different colors used.
Solo is another image that shows Beyrer's skill with color, and yet this one has a totally different feel to the one above. In the one above, there is that glimpse of color right in the center, but in this one, it spans the entire image.
Finally, we have Hidden Falls. This I find to be such a magnificent piece because of the brightness in the center and how it gets darker towards the edges. It really brings into focus the waterfall, making for a really spectacular view.
So, what do you think of Matt Beyrer's art? Do you have a favorite of the ones you have seen?
See you all in the next issue.