Tell me about your photography/art background?

I’ve just always done art for as long as I can remember. My mother was an artist, so I grew up creating things and had access to supplies. It was always just a part of life for me. I started getting into in photography in junior high. It was just another means of producing images and at some
point in my twenties, photography became a way of supplementing my income. I’ve always had a pretty strong separation between my professional work and my artistic work though.

​What kind of subjects do you shoot? What are you currently working on?

I’ll shoot just about anything. Landscapes, people, objects, moments in myown life. I may not use those images for anything right away, if ever though. Sometimes I have negatives that sit around for years before they ever become something tangible. A lot of my photographic work comes out of unconventional darkroom techniques. So, a negative that I’ve shot may only be a small part of the final image.

I’m always working on several things at once. It would probably be more efficient to simply work a single project from start to finish but I get so bored working that way. Lately, I’d say I’ve been more focused on illustrative work. I’m doing some drawings for a book called, "Republican
Jelly" that is a collection of absurd short stories and illustrations. I’ve also been working on a comic. I have some paintings in the works too.

Republican Jelly Sample
THE GREAT PENGUIN MIGRATION
Sample
BY MATT READ

It was in August of nineteen ninety-six, in the city of New York, when I personally witnessed the rare and unforgettable marvel of The Great Penguin Migration. It was early evening and I was looking out the window of my seventh story apartment and enjoying a glass of strong port when I first noticed an immense black spot blotting out the stars of the late summer sky. Within minutes I could make out thousands of tiny specks looming over the New York City skyline and when these mysterious forms finally came into focus, I could recognize the unmistakable pear shapes of penguins fluttering in hordes through the night.

What inspires you as an artist?

I get depressed if I go too long without making something new. So there’s that. Sometimes it’s an idea that I have or a specific image that I want to make. I might have a theory about how to use a medium in a particular way that I want to experiment with. Sometimes it’s as simple as wanting to
feel ink on paper or paint on canvas. The physical act in and of itself can be pretty gratifying.

Who is your biggest inspiration?  

Well, Van Gogh has always been a big one for me. Vince is my man. The Impressionists and Post-Impressionists really got me into painting. Marcel Duchamp is a big one too. I can have a pretty irreverent approach to making art sometimes so I really relate to artists like Duchamp, Ai Wei
Wei, Rauschenberg.

Matt's art is so diverse. Some of his work is playful, some beautiful, you can tell that he has reached of level of creativity that most artist take a lifetime to accomplish. His fine art photos use color to enhance the composition but there is simplistic beauty in which less is more. As far as his illustrations go his lines are clean and playful and there is this underlying sense of humor in it, both in his writing and in his illustrations. With each piece of his art you get a little piece of who Matt is but he never gives you the complete picture.

Matt is also and accomplished musician playing in bands locally since he was around 12 years old. He played in a band called Fighting 90, more recently a band called Duke. This is where he came up with the name for his comic book. If you would like to check out Matt's music please go to his website which is linked below and there is also a link to a music video he did with Duke.

Please check out more of Matt's work on his website here.

Or you can follow Matt on his Instagram

Matt's music video with his band Duke called The Cruiser.

Every artist that I introduce I would like to inspire just one person.

An only child from Springfield, Missouri who was born with a natural talent to create.  Wiley is an accomplished musician who can play the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, as effortlessly as he paints.  His parents played a huge role in his success by supporting him throughout his endeavors.  ​

​With the idea of creating a band called Street Light Suzie and an album pre-written, Wiley headed to Austin 13 years ago to make his dream of being a musician a reality.   Wiley joined the band which became Street Light Suzie.  Street Light Suzie became well-known for their 2013 album called the "Red Album" and they have two albums currently for sale on iTunes.  Wiley has also received credits for placing songs in film and television in shows such as CSI, Nikita, Ringer, VH1, and E! shows which it stated on his website.   You can check out some of his solo music hear (Link to Wiley's Solo Music).  He is also recognized for creating unique bleach t-shirts called Bleach T's by Wiley. 

Different than my previous blogposts I didn’t know Wiley prior to writing this. I briefly met him at an art show earlier this year but didn’t really know him or his art.  A mutual friend Chris Marinez  whom I did a previous blog post on  from Catatonic Arts recommended  I write a blog about Wiley.  It has been an eye opening experience to say the least.   I had a glimpse of Wiley's life and was able to check out his work which I am excited to introduce to you.  

​I spent a short time with Wiley but really learned to appreciate his art and who he is.   What I learned is that when you're in a room with Wiley his personality is all-encompassing, interactive, musical, distracting, and brilliant.  He knows exactly what he's doing but you'll never know what he's going to do next.   He could play a quick tune on his piano and then start a painting a few minutes later.  It's really hard to tell exactly what's going on in his head but he's definitely open to discussing anything.  

​                                     "Weird is normal and normal is fucking weird" - Wiley Ross

Wiley paints famous but is drawn to the ordinary.  He doesn’t want clients to purchase his paintings because of the subjects being famous.  It's about the art and the effort that went into making it.  Wiley is self taught in painting and has been creating art since he can remember.   

​When he was a young artist he would watch "Come Fly with Me" a documentary about Michael Jordan to find inspiration.   Standing at 6' 6" Wiley dreamed of being a basketball player and received a scholarship for both art and basketball to William Jewel College in Liberty, MO.   He felt that he never really fit in, packed up and headed to Austin to pursue his music career.      

During our interview Wiley had a Picasso documentary and Wiley pointed out how Picasso uses his entire arm to paint.   He frequently watches documentaries about his favorite artists to get inspired.   As mentioned previously Wiley is a giant guy and he doesn't see himself painting anything small in size.  Most of his paintings are measured in feet including his murals that he is well-known for all over Austin as well as a few located in Missouri and Dallas.    

Is there anyone that you know personally that is an inspiration to you?    Yes, Brad Noble who is an artist that Wiley met through a mutual friend and Instagram.   On Brad's website he states that he likes painting allegorical pieces from his imagination.   He likes story telling and is inspired by current events around the world.  His pieces are fairly large as well and refined, dreamlike, but so good that you can't stop staring at them.  

​"Brad is inspiration to me because he's an absolutely amazing artist, plus he's a hell of a guy and I can learn a lot from him." - Wiley Ross

I contacted Brad and this is what he had to say about Wiley's work. 

"Wiley is an all around talented, energetic renaissance man. We were introduced through a mutual friend but also went to the same high school-at different times. I saw his large scale murals and invited him out to NYC to partake in a live art project I was developing in Times Square.  As a visual artist, his work reflects the energy and spontaneity of his character as well as the underlying mastery he seems to appreciate."  - Brad Noble

"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative" - Oscar Wilde

Name a few people that are inspiring to you?  Basquiat, Picasso, Devo,  Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Jim Morrison.   All of his inspirations listed here have many things in common but the one that stands out to me is that they all they all had an impact on how art, music, paintings, poems, sculptures are viewed.  Many of these artists being relatable by the way they expressed themselves.  

​                              “It isn't about what they do, it's about who they are”. - Wiley Ross  

The quote following this was from someone that had met Wiley at one of many art shows he participates in around Austin.  It really stood out to me as to how on accurate it is.  ​

“I so enjoyed meeting you and hearing how you are so open-minded about creativity and techniques. There is a sort of semi controlled randomness about your pieces, but it is no happy accident you are purposeful and skilled. The risk of imperfection doesn't thwart you and is exactly why it is so relatable! As human beings imperfection is exactly what makes us beautiful... You are able to make relatable beautiful art and I am so grateful you are compelled to share it with the rest of us”.      - Mia Culpepper

Another inspiration to Wiley is his 6 year old daughter Veda Moon.     Being a dad is everything to Wiley and you can tell by the way he talks about is Doodie.   She's super cute and definitely has a fun-spirited dad that's willing to try or do anything to make her happy including singing, dancing, creating art, going to the movies, just about anything.   

Now that you know Wiley's background and how he got to Austin let's talk about him as a painter.  Several of his paintings reflect some of his favorite artists work but have a Wiley twist.   His style is fluid and progressive, he loves using every color you can imagine to create depth, emotion, and to help the viewer make sense of what they're viewing.  There were several moments when I was viewing his paintings in person that left me without any words to describe them.   

 Wiley's paintings are so undone but yet complete at the same time.   Even looking at his murals to me it is not just about technique but about bringing his subject to life.  He can make a tomato look interesting, but with the human face he portrays the emotion of his subjects in a way that makes you feel something.   The painting in the center above is of a women's face and I don't know the title since many of his paintings go without.   But I was drawn to this painting because of the warmth of the color, the sadness in the eyes, it just left an impression on me.   

It's now hanging in my stairway which I walk past everyday and it has brought an entirely different feel and energy to my house.   I believe the value of art is with the viewer and me as the viewer of Wiley's paintings I would consider them priceless.  His pieces are unique, powerful, and ever-changing.   

Please check out all of the work I posted here as well as on Wiley's website.   He has so much work that's he's completed that it has made it difficult for me to narrow down the best.   

"I don't know what's going to happen, man.  but I wanna have.  My kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.  Alright!" - Jim Morrison

Check out Wiley's Website here to learn more about this inspiring artist.   All of the work shown is for sale unless already sold.     

​If you would like to be featured on my blog or you know someone that should please contact me.  

​Each artist that I introduce I would like to inspire just one person.