Interview
Matthew Burkholder
Matthew Burkholder is a self-taught artist and devoted poet and photographer from the Elkhart area who resides in Indiana. Matthew is a devoted father, poet, and photographer and disabled artist. He started out sketching characters and continued to use his talent to create a wide variety of art in all different forms. He could not limit himself to a single media, so he incorporates multiple medias. In each piece, he applies himself to it with the attitude that we all have a finite time on this world and with his time, pours all he has into each and every one. Everyday life put his art on hold for a number of years, along with health issues also, losing his mother to Covid. Her last wish for him inspired him to continue using his talents. He conveys his vision through his art combining fluid arts with an airbrushing technique. He is well versed in many medias including oil, acrylic, air brush art, charcoal and photography.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I grew up in a rural area in Elkhart, Indiana; I had a rough upbringing. My father was in and out of my life so it was mostly my mother raising us. My best friend, Cory Kyle introduced me to art, mostly sketching in class at school and getting in trouble for that. I married young - at 18. The mother of my 4 children and I stayed in Indiana and raised our 4 children. After our divorce we continued co-parenting our wonderful children. I was diagnosed with a degenerative spinal disease in my late twenties. After a failed back surgery that didn’t leave me very many options for work, I mainly worked in production factories. I was let go multiple times as I was seen as a liability with my extensive health issues. So, after going against doctors wishes multiple times, I finally accepted my fate and picked up my art journey starting with pet portraits. I conceived my own way of mixing oil painting mixed with fluid art and my own air brushing technique. For 10 years I have struggled to make a living and career out it. I lost my father to cancer and lost my mother to Covid. Her last wish was for me to make something out of my artistic gifts, so I have a deep respect for the mother of my children and all single mothers.”
What inspires you?
“I find inspiration in all of the things I see in my world. I have a very unique view of the world; my children often inspire me and provide input on my works. I have a deep respect for my mother and the mother of my children so that is conveyed in some of my works. I battle with depression and ADHD and a learning disability among a lot of health problems. All of these hurdles push me to want to be among the greatest artists of my time.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“A good portion of my works are on the darker side because of the dark times I’ve been through in my life. The message I convey is no matter what hurdles life throws at you, do not let that dictate how you live your life!”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is unique accented with mostly dark hues with a bit of light. None of my work is traditional, I use my own self-taught methods with my own view of the world.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I would have to say Bob Ross and Frank Frazetta. I like to mix the two artists’ technique in some of my work.”
“My work is unique accented with mostly dark hues with a bit of light.”
What is your creative process like?
“I don’t plan anything. I’m often asked why I’m blankly staring at a canvas or random objects. I never plan colors or brushes etc., it just happens as I go along. My mother often said some people are just born with that gift, it just kind of effortlessly pours out of me.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role, in my eyes, is to convey their journey and views of their own personal experiences in their own unique way to the world. My hope is that it evolves into society as a whole, having more respect for artists as a profession because contrary to popular belief producing art and marketing yourself is a very hard job.”
