George Mattingly

During my childhood and teen years, I loved to paint. I sold my first painting in fifth grade; my art teacher bought it and  told my parents I had "a gift from God." 

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Somewhere in my teen years, I was diverted and put painting aside.

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I went on to have a very successful design/build construction company. In a way, construction drawing kept art in my life, but I did not paint. I did not paint for over 40 years. Christmas of 2017 found me not only divorced, but disabled. 

I picked up a paintbrush. 

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A new journey began. My career in building and design honed me to have discipline and patience, valuable  for learning my new craft. I started with the very basics, (I didn't even know that blue and yellow made green until 2018!) and advanced to studies of light, values, and composition. Everything I learn opens many possibilities for exploration of the world through my art. 

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I’m drawn to the natural world, and that has been the focus of my paintings to date.  But this new way of life --learn and paint, paint and learn-- reveals that there is still much more ground to cover, including different techniques, styles and subjects...so much to learn and so little time.  

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But I  have today, and that is all I need.

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"Every child is born an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."    --Pablo Picasso

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