Matthew Padilla
Matthew Padilla, a Chicago-area resident, is originally from Santa Fe NM, where he was immersed in the world of Fine Art from a young age. After graduating from the University of Chicago, he established himself in the world of computer coding and software design. However, Fine Art was and is his true calling and as such he acquired formal education as an artist at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, supplemented by work with various private instructors. Today Matthew works out of his studio in the Chicago area, where he paints, draws, and advances his work as an artist.
“I am interested, primarily, in geometry, the human form, and the human form’s capacity for abstraction. I start with a basic idea, often utilizing phi, the “golden ratio”, to lay out the canvas, but then distance myself, in a way, and watch the piece develop itself. There’s no limit, really, to the amount of work that can be done in this way.”
Matthew’s current body of work is a continuation of this exploration of the human figure and its relationship to geometric abstraction. He is drawn to larger canvases and enjoys the effect produced by vibrant color. His inspiration is derived, first and foremost, from the human figure, but the figure itself, each pose, quickly yields inspiration for the inclusion of geometric consideration and abstraction. It is his hope that viewers will be left with an increased appreciation for not only the human form, but for the beauty that can arise when it is considered from the perspective of symmetry, geometry, and controlled abstraction.
All of the art in Matthew’s Blue Moon Collection is available for purchase.
Send inquiries to kendra@thebluemoongallery.com or text 224-388-7948.
NEW: Figure Drawings by Matthew Padilla
Figure drawing plays a central role in Matthew’s art practice as he has always viewed it as a necessary skill in order to paint as he wants to. There is also an academic aspect which he likes — proportion, perspective, and anatomy all play a role. Matthew feels the human figure is perhaps the most compelling subject matter of all, at least for him.
“When I am able to complete a figure drawing to my liking, one that really flows and captures what I want to say, I feel a sense of accomplishment because drawing the figure is rife with challenge; misdrawn figures feel wrong, and misdrawing the figure is easy. Most of my figure drawings are done with basic materials: charcoal, graphite, ink, and sometimes pastel. I feel that these media allow the lines to speak for themselves. Some drawings feel, to me, as though they would pair well with text, and so I write on them, and much of what I write comes to me on the spot. Nearly every day that I work in the studio I start off with figure drawing as it allows me to transition well to other work. It would be hard to overstate the importance of figure drawing to me and I expect it will always play a strong role in my life as a practicing artist.”
Figure Dawings by Matthew Padilla — Now Available
Various Media: Charcoal, Graphite, Ink, Pastel, Spray Paint on Paper
18 X 24 | $100 each
Send inquiries to kendra@thebluemoongallery.com or text 224-388-7948.
Figure Drawing #1
Figure Drawing #2
Figure Drawing #3
Figure Drawing #4
Figure Drawing #5
Figure Drawing #6
Figure Drawing #7
Figure Drawing #8
Figure Drawing #9
Figure Drawing #10
Figure Drawing #11
Figure Drawing #12
Figure Drawing #13
Figure Drawing #14
Figure Drawing #15
Figure Drawing #16
Figure Drawing #17
Figure Drawing #18
NEW: Ghost Story, part 2 28 x 22 Oil on Canvas $500
NEW: Spring Abstraction no. 1 -- 16 x 16 Oil on Canvas $500
Memories of Childhood (or) A Perfect State of Mind 18 x 24 Oil on Canvas $650
Winter Abstraction no. 1 -- Summer Stillness 58 x 48 Oil on Canvas, Mounted on Board $2500
New Mexico Rains 48 x 48 Oil on Canvas $650
A Ghost in my Father’s House (or) “and it’s so late” 54 x 32 Oil on Canvas $2000
Southwark, London (or) The Mysteries of Love 26 x 16 Oil on Canvas $650
Self Portrait with Blue Chair 38.25 x 56 Oil on Canvas $2000
Summer Abstraction no. 2 (or) A View From the Shinkansen 56 x 50 Oil on Canvas $2200
Above the Piano Room 24 x 18 Oil on Canvas $650
A Perfect Afternoon 24 x 36 Oil on Canvas $825
The Silence of Afternoon Sunlight (or) Loneliness 40 x 30 Oil and Graphite on Canvas $1000
The Subtleties of Love 40 x 30 Oil on Canvas $1000
Winter Abstraction no. 2 -- Subversive White 38 x 38 Oil on Canvas $1700
A Dream Reunion (or) Mr. L Encounters His Physician 48 x 32 Oil on Canvas $1500
Young Woman, Late at Night, in Frightening Hallway with Electric Box 28 x 22 Oil on Canvas $750
The Artist, hidden from view, contemplates his model, who contemplates her own mortality 36 x 24 Oil on Canvas $825
Prelude to the Trial of Anne Boleyn, part 1 -- 24 x 30 Oil on Canvas $750
Summer Lamentation (or) Mrs. K (or) A Day in Hospital 18 x 24 Oil on Canvas $650
Subversive Nude Behind Factory Window 42 x 44 Oil on Canvas $2000
Matthew Padilla
Matthew’s Art Studio
