When death leads to life, art is inevitable. And art, as creation, is a reflection of its creator. Brinston and his work consistently grapple with the revolution of death and life and death again. The cacophonous symphony of color and shape, rhythm and structure that compose his work is all at once chaotic and calm. Just as the artist himself is an amalgam of mania and peace. The composition of art and artist is indistinguishable... just as his art is an extension of himself, the artist has become an extension of his art. For the artist, art is valuable in its making life worth living. Art has given him purpose and meaning, the people he loves, the places he's been, literal survival, a future. Art is everything. And now with everything, the artist seeks to share this existential gift through collaboration and demonstration. Impact the world through connection. Inform himself and those around him through interaction. Art is the universal teacher. And the artist's goal is to help people find little bits of themselves through personal synergy with the art. The artist's path from life to death and back to life again has not been without pain. But the vision of Christ plus the inevitable clarity of death have afforded him balance amidst chaos and a wealth of generosity through selfless invention. The artist creates not for glory, fame or control... but because he is an artist. And an artist creates.

Matthew Brinston. Photo Mike Onipede

How long have you been an artist?
I've been drawing since as long as I can remember. In high school, an art teacher named Mrs. Smith saw my potential and nudged me to turn those drawings into paintings. I view that time of my life to the movie The Matrix when all of the Mr. Smith's force Neo into stepping into his true identity, in this case, Mr. Smith is a Mrs.

Original Color Scheme “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” (2020)

Is your art your full-time career?
Yes, I have been making my paintings and sculptures full time since just before graduating college. I've been most fortunate in this regard, as I hear from many artists I encounter this is not always the case. I feel very blessed to put my full attention on my work, and I do not take it lightly.

Derealism Portrait #2

Do you have favorite places you like to create?
I like to make my works in my office. I call it my office because my neighbors are a law firm and doctor offices. It's a very commercial environment, a large space with many paintings going at once which allows a harmonious style that unites all of the different works I feel.

What does a typical day look like?  Is there a typical day?
I wake up between 5:00am and 6:00am and get my head on straight with a few coffees and a work out. I do some journaling and brainstorming through prayer before I'm on my way to the office. I read a lot on the train I take to my office; it passes the time well.

I paint most of the day and run errands if need be. I have phone conversations with family, friends, and collaborators throughout the day, as well, while painting. They can always tell where I am by the echo of my space and the sounds of brushes against the canvas. I am also periodically channel surfing the web throughout my day.

Derealism Portrait #3

What materials do you prefer?
I prefer to use oil paint most of the time, although this year I spent 4 months split between my paint studio, where I use brushes and oils, and a print-making studio, where I used silkscreens and acrylics. Both are liquid gold in my book.

Where/How are you inspired?
I'm inspired by many angles of the world we live in. Different avenues of inspiration come from gallery/museum days, reading on tech and business topics, art history, conversations in person and on the phone, mindless channel surfing on the web, Google News, Blockchain, etc. Now that I'm thinking on it, inspiration comes from so many places for me, as long as I have a cup of coffee on me.

Twin #2

How do you know when your piece is done?
I know a piece is done when I'm looking at it, it's looking at me, and all of the sudden the canvas grows a head in the likeness of my aforementioned high school art teacher in the plains of Texas saying, "You can always add more but YOU CAN NEVER TAKE IT BACK." It's been my measuring stick for completion for some time now.

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys Event at Sour Mouse on October 7

Do you work on one or more pieces at a time?
I've been told I work on too many paintings at once by some people, but I'm too busy painting all of the canvases to really hear what they are saying! I adore hopping around to different canvases. I feel like Captain Picard going warp speed from one galaxy to the next. It adds to the work, in my opinion.

Self Portrait

If you were not an artist, what would you do?
If I were not an artist, I would probably be dead, but that includes a whole backstory of explaining, so if I were not an artist I would have to say my interest in Wall St. and tech topics would have something to do with my alternate occupation.

How can our readers find and purchase your art?
I have smaller works and merchandise available on my website at Brinston.co, as well as at my future exhibitions, where I will have larger scale works available.

https://www.instagram.com/matthewbrinston/

#BRINSTON

 
All photos and information contained herein courtesy and copyright Matthew Brinston