Young artist to watch in 2021
Mattie Ree Neal, The Artist, oil, 40 x 30.
From: Tennessee.
Art Education: My father, Michael Shane Neal, is an artist, so I have been blessed to grow up in the art world. I treasure many years of being instructed and inspired by my father as well as his mentor and closest friend, the late Everett Raymond Kinstler. I plan to pursue my art education through workshops, reading, visiting museums, and painting from life.
Style: Brushy realism.
Creative Spark: Everything. I am in love with calligraphy, form, abstraction, design, and the poetry of light and shade that can be found in whatever the world presents you.
Second-Choice Career: Historian.
Other Passions: Reading, traveling, history, and watching classic movies.
Best Advice Received: Work from life as much as you can. Never be without your sketchbook. Paint the thing that attracted you to a scene. Progress comes with miles and miles of canvas.
Quirkiest Trait: I love vintage clothes and can spend hours in antique stores.
Mantra or Motto: Attitude is everything.
Favorite Studio Music: Jazz, big band, classical, and movie soundtracks.
Favorite Work by Another Artist: Everything by John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Joaquín Sorolla, Cecilia Beaux, and Everett Raymond Kinstler.
Future Goals: I want to be the best artist I can possibly be, live the life of an eternal student, and one day paint something really good.
Price Range: $500 to $5,000.
Representation: www.mattiereeneal.com.