West Springfield native’s aquatic artwork on display in July

June 19, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

“Koi,” A painting by John Matlock.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Dolphins, and turtles, and fish, oh my! West Springfield may not have an aquarium, but during the month of July, they have the next best thing. John Matlock, an aquatic artist, will have his artwork on display at the West Springfield Public Library.

“[It] is a great opportunity for artists to gain exposure,” said Matlock. He said the number of artists who show their work there is increasing. Matlock, a West Springfield resident of 47 years, said that he showed his art at the library eight years ago but his work has evolved since then.

“I have painted just about anything you can imagine for anyone: cars, animals, barns, boats, sports,” Matlock said. Now, he mainly focuses on marine life, which he calls his “first true love in painting.”

“Painting animals underwater always seemed to bring me a feeling of peacefulness,” Matlock said.

Matlock is a full-time artist who learned how to paint at an early age.

“My late father was an artist, as well,” Matlock said. “I used to watch him paint in our basement on the stairs, and he would explain how brushes and paints differ [and] showed me techniques.

“Now, I paint in that same basement with his easel.“

Matlock said he began painting in high school, around 1985. While his father used oil paints, Matlock prefers to use acrylic paints, which are more environmentally friendly since clean-up only requires soap and water.

While Matlock occasionally uses photographs as a reference for the position or pose of a subject in his paintings, his paintings come from his imagination. He is currently working on a painting of beluga whales.

“Now, I am hoping to convey a message of preserving endangered and all sea creatures and awareness to the ever-growing pollution problem in our seas,” Matlock said.

Matlock’s work will be on display at the library throughout the month of July and can be viewed at facebook.com/TheJohnMatlockArtGallery.

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