Statement About My Work

The natural landscape has always been a powerful focus of my work. Currently I am conducting on-site research at local prairies, depicting the landscape in paint. Prairies have been reduced to isolated fragments that require conservation and preservation. Less than 1% of the presettlement tall grass prairie remains.

Macro and microenvironments fill my paintings, engaging the viewer in their detail. Even while painting tranquil scenes, I achieve active color sensations by layering color over complementary underpaintings. My paintings express delicate sensations through subtle texture and natural pattern.

The tall grass prairie is an irreplaceable tapestry of plant and animal life. I paint dynamic compositions of Midwest prairie remnants so that the viewer can appreciate and see the need of their preservation before they are lost forever.

Biography

I was born in Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada in 1958 and became a naturalized US citizen in 1999. I graduated from Marshalltown, IA High School in 1976. I received my BA from the University of Northern Iowa in Art Education in 1980. I completed my MA from Western Illinois in 1999. I taught Art in the Davenport School District from 1980- 2013. I now teach acrylic painting classes at the Figge Art Museum.

Galleries

Kaleidoscope Works Art Gallery & Gifts

23 E. 11th Street Suite 3

Davenport, IA 52083

303-748-7114

https://www.artwithscopes.com

matt@artwithscopes.com

Octagon Center for the Arts

427 Douglas Avenue

Ames, IA 50010

(515) 232-5331

https://www.octagonarts.org

Quad City Arts
1715 2nd Ave
Rock Islands, Illinois 61201
(309)793-1213
https://www.quadcityarts.com
info@quadcityarts.com

Broadcast Media

Prairie Painter - KWQC Channel 6 Fran Riley Features Reporter

Publications

"The Bones of Paradise" by Jonis Agee

My painting "October Evening" is the cover art for award-winning author Jonis Agee in her novel "The Bones of Paradise".

“Paintings in Acrylics” The Indispensable Guide by Lorena Kloosterboer

“Morning Dew” on pg. 12

"Creating Exceptional Color with Acrylics" by Lexi Sundell

"Sunset" on the cover

"Dunn Ranch" and "October Evening" on pages 100-101

Creating Exceptional Color with Acrylics

Public Collections

• “Wapsi Prairie” commissioned by Friends of the Wapsi River Environmental Center
• Image of “Midday” made into a 5ft X 5ft Interactive pollinators display at Lime Creek Nature Center, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.
• “Prairie Blazing Star” Purchased by Genesis East Hospital for their new surgical wing, Davenport, IA
• “Wild Bergamot” and “Reawakening” Purchased by Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA

Exhibititions

• Kaleidoscope Works Art Gallery and Gifts 2022-2024
• “Art on Lockdown” Quad City Arts show 2021
• Beaux Arts Fair 2019-Best of Show Award and 1st place Painting Award
• Bereskin Gallery 2019-2024
• "Prairie Light" at Bereskin Gallery April 2019
• Octagon Art Fest 2018
• Valley Junction Art Fest 2019, 2018 merit award
• "Out & About" Show at Quad City Arts and Midcoast "Midday" received 2nd place award
• Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition Feb. 6-May 15 2016 at the Figge Art Museum
• Beaux Arts Fair People’s Choice award 2016
• “Midday” 4th Place award in the 8th Annual International Society of Acrylic Painters Signature Members Online Show 2015
• Maquoketa Art Experience South Gallery Oct./Nov. 2015
• Quad City Arts “Our Vanishing Landscape” main gallery show July/August 2015
• David Smith Gallery Geneseo 2015 main gallery show
• Midcoast at Gallery West 2014, 2017
• Art In The Classroom Show, Figge Art Museum- June-Sept. 2013
• One Person Show- Rock Island Library- Aug. 2013
• It's Raining Cats and Dogs, Quad City Arts 2013
• Dubuque Museum of Art Biennial Show 2013, 2017
• Midcoast at Bucktown 2012
• Northbrook, Il Art In The Park July 2012
• Quad City Arts at the Airport - 2011, 2018
• Opera House, Dewitt, Iowa - October 2011
• Figge Art Museum - Art Salon the Museum Store - February - March 2011
• National Prairie Conference 2010, 2020
• ArtFest Midwest - Des Moines, Iowa - 2010
• Horizontal Grandeur 2009
• Midcoast at i wireless Center 2009
• Quad City Botanical Center - One Person Show 2001, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2022
• Ohnward Fine Arts Center - One Person Show - Maquoketa, Iowa - December 2008-January 2009
• Iowa Nature and Wildlife in Art Show and Sale - Iowa City, Iowa 2007-2009
• International Society of Acrylic Painters Online Show 2008-2019, 2012 Award Winner
• International Society of Acrylic Painters San Luis Obispo Art Center - San Luis Obispo, California 2007
• Quad City Arts Heritage Center - One Person Show - April-May 2007
• Midcoast at the River Center - January-February 2007, 2009, 2011
• Catiri's Art Oasis - Amana, Iowa 2006-2011
• The Perfect Setting - Marshalltown, Iowa 2007-2009
• International Society of Acrylic Painter Signature Membership - Cornell Museum of Art and History - Delray Beach, Florida 2006
• International Society of Acrylic Painter Signature Membership - Artist's Gallery of Seattle - Seattle, WA - 2005
• Quad City Arts Grape Vine Party - August 2006
• Thieves Market - University of Iowa Fine Arts Council - Iowa City, Iowa - 2009-2018
• Quad City Arts Sales Gallery 2001-2024
• Art Guild of Burlington Juried Show - Burlington, Iowa - 2001, 2004-2005 - First Place Winner 2001
• Riverssance Festival of Fine Arts 2003, 2005-2007, 2009-2024
• Octagon Center for the Arts - Ames, IA - 2005-2024
• The President's Best - Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum and Library - West Branch, IA - 2005
• Scott County Library - One Person Show - Eldridge, IA - 2005
• The Channel Cat Gallery - One Person Show - Lansing, IA - 2005
• Left Bank Art League Fine Arts Show - 2005-2008
• Exploration/Exploitation - St. Louis Artist Guild - 2004 Award Winner
• Iowa Artisan Gallery - Iowa City, IA - 2004-2005
• Midcoast Center Station Exhibit - 2004, 2008, 2010, 2015
• Tri-State Tri-Annual Juried Invitational - Dubuque, IA - 2003
• Artspace of Muscatine Gallery 2003-2004
• Marshalltown Community College Ray Fredrick Gallery - One Person Show 2003
• Faculty Art Show - West High School Davenport, Iowa - 2003
• J. N. "Ding" Darling Art Gallery - Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge Prairie City, Iowa - 2003, 2005, 2024
• Artist in You - Quad City Arts - 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011 - 2011 2nd Place Award
• Wild Things Nature and Wildlife Art Show - Prairie City, Iowa - 2003-2004
• Project Art Exhibit - University of Iowa Hospitals - 2002, 2006
• Participation in Midcoast Gallery Hop - 2002-2004
• Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition - Rock Island, Illinois - 2001, 2004, 2010 - Award Winner 2001
• Work exhibited at Midcoast Fine Arts Rock Island and Davenport underglass 1999-2002
• Participation in ArtStroll 2001-2006
• Artist in a garden at Vanderveer Gardenwalk - Davenport, Iowa - 2001, 2004
• Quad Cities Regional Art Showcase 1987 Third Place Winner
• One Woman Show at the Bettendorf Lincoln Center
• Participation in Beaux Arts Fesitval 1986-2000, 2008, 2013-2024
• Work exhibited at the Rock Island Art Council Art Teacher's Show
• Work exhibited at the University of Iowa Art Teacher's Show
• Work exhibited at the University of Northern Iowa Art Gallery
• Work exhibited at the Performing Arts Gallery
• Work exhibited at the John Deere Center
• Work exhibited at the Mississippi Fine Arts
• Work exhibited at the Waterfront Gallery