Matthew MacDougall

TRAÂ ARTist Issue 1 , 07.16

Matthew MacDougall my work " is innate, intuitive, inspired..."

how did you get started with your studio practice ?

While at architecture school, I learned of encaustic and of its many wonderful qualities, began experimenting with its seemingly endless opportunities, then practiced them for years in a cramped laundry room. The passion I have for this medium and working in abstract has grown into a full-functioning, dedicated studio set into the edge of the woods at the back of my property... 78 steps from my home. do you keep a sketchbook ? what do you put in there ?

A variation of a sketchbook... I capture moments of inspiration with a camera; intriguing abstract compositions of light and space. favorite place to feel inspired On a walk through the woods. how do you feel about failure ?

Failure hurts, but it calls out courage; elicits a new perspective, and ultimately forges growth.

"The passion I have for this medium and working in abstract has grown into a full-functioning, dedicated studio set into the edge of the woods at the back of my property... 78 steps from my home."

TRA ART GROUP / 1030 COOKS RD. CLAWSON MI 48017 248.677.4008 / MATTHEW MACDOUGALL

6 things you really love ( In no particular order: ) Water The wilderness Potatoes Getting kisses from my children Paddling Stacking rocks

What do you listen to while you work The sounds from nature that surround the studio - when the windows are flung open, or some occasional Steven Stills. cats or dogs Just Ellie May… we “rescued” her from another family when she was 1 year old. She was just Ellie until we adopted her and gave her a second name. An excitable golden retriever, she is now in her late 5’s. tell me about your perfect Sunday After a morning spent with my family and a lazy afternoon, taking the sea kayak out for an evening paddle around the shoreline of a still, quiet, wilderness lake with my best friend; my wife Jessica.

inspire

Matthew MacDougall is an artist working in Encaustic and Mixed Media.

Encaustic is "Painting with hot wax", and because the material changes from a molten to a solid state in a matter of seconds, is an exciting medium that presents a unique set of challenges to work with. These challenges, however, also serve as opportunities as Matthew's paintings often take on a sculptural quality as the pigmented wax is layered, fused, pushed, and sometimes combined with elements from nature. The work is abstract, exploring concepts such as texture, transparency, depth, and ambiguity. Inspiration for Matthew's work is derived from a love for, and connection with the natural environment.

It is innate, intuitive, inspired...

Matthew resides in northern Oakland county with his wife Jessica and three children, Caelie, Joseph and John.

TRA ART Group is excited to represent Matthew and would be happy to arrange a viewing of his work in your home or at the gallery.

248.677.4008 or email traartgroup@gmail.com www.traartgroup.com

TRA ART GROUP / 1030 COOKS RD. CLAWSON MI 48017 248.677.4008 / MATTHEW MACDOUGALL