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| | Matthew Potter aka Paintslinger
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• Enjoying life is often recognizing the importance of the getting there, rather than the destination itself. The process of painting is as important as the final object.
• I see painting as a metaphor for life. A painting goes through a birthing, develops with guidance from the artist, and eventually becomes its own being, ready to be sent on a life journey.
• All painting is abstraction. Even representational painting. After all, it's never the actual but merely a representation in pigment.
• I tend to see all things around me abstractly.
• Chance is equally important if not more so than actual decision-making. Serendipity is critical; the means through which important discovery occurs due to unexpected and often accidental combinations.
• Each piece is a magnitude of mark-making, wherein the scale is small, but the impact of the marks is exponentially powerful. In a sense, the viewer is looking at an abstract world from an omnipotent position.
• I’m fascinated by using transparency and texture as a means of creating a sense of space.
• I like working in layers, destroying and revealing previous workings as I go.
Matthew Potter aka Paintslinger
Exhibitions:
2006 -
Poor Yorick Open Studio,
Magpie’s Gallery – Several group shows throughout the year
2005 - Poor Yorick Open Studio - Biannual
2004
Springville UT Spring Salon – Merit Award
ArtIntellect Group Show
Poor Yorick Open Studio
Spring City Memorial Day fundraiser
2003
Deseret News Landscape Exhibit
Poor Yorick Open Studio
Leftbank Gallery Group show – Forward Vision
Rio Grande – Poor Yorick Group Show
2000
Marmalade Artists Co-op Open studio
Springville Salon
1999
Deseret News Landscape exhibit
Ogden Black and White exhibit – Honorable mention
1997
Westminster College Graduate exhibit
1996
Westminster College Senior exhibit
1995
Avenues Street Fair
Training:
Paul Davis, Helper artist retreat and intensive figure sessions
David Dornan, Helper artist retreat
Don Doxey, Westminster College
Craig Glidden, Westminster College
Shao-Yuan Zhang, Westminster College
Connie Borup, University of Utah
John Erickson, University of Utah
Dung Hoang, University of Utah
Brad Slaugh, University of Utah
Tom Kass, University of Utah
John Sugden, University of Utah
Architectural studies, University of Utah & Massachusetts College of Art
Jewelry making – Massachusetts College of Art
Marcelino Stuhmer, Independent painting classes
Ann Potter, Painting mentor
Degrees:
BA Art, Westminster College
BS MKTG, Westminster College
Background:
As far as personal bio, my art has played an integral role throughout my life. Having a sister who is an artist and supportive parents is extremely beneficial. I remember being exposed to art as a child in elementary school and visiting the National Gallery like it was the mall. I even was excused from school, purportedly sick, to see art exhibitions. The next big influence came after a dramatic move to Switzerland. This meant access to many famous museums across the continent. Art became more important during high school, where the frustrations of teenage life found their outlet on canvas.
Upon graduation from high school, chance brought me to Utah, and then to Westminster College, where I immediately enrolled in art classes. Don Doxey, the painting chair, played an enormous role in my development. As a Western realist, Don opened new perspectives for my art, which at the time was very abstract. Another great influence came after Don retired in the form of Craig Glidden, a completely different, yet brilliant, artist and teacher.
Simultaneously, I was searching for a support giving me the opportunity to develop art. Dual bachelor degrees in both art and marketing resulted. The realization that the mainstream business world was not going to be my area of operation came late as I was finishing my second degree. In fact, a business professor inspired me to return to my heart. One day, this professor was relating a story of a student who, in her esteem belonged writing poetry, not being a business student. It was easy to see that being myself. As a result, I evolved into a graphic designer, which adds balance to my art and is the vehicle to maintain myself as an artist. The art is a welcome replenishment to my creative pool.
