BIOGRAPHY
Kristian Matthews was born in 1978 in Livonia, MI. As a young child, he showed artistic potential as he regularly entered and won coloring contests. His artistic interests shifted toward creating humorous comic-style drawings as he progressed through his teenage years. It wasn't until his first year at a community college that he began to explore the world of fine art, beginning with a class that focused on drawing from observation. It soon became apparent that he had a knack for realistic, observation-based drawing, and he decided not long after to pursue a career in fine art. In 2005, he began attending The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he concentrated his efforts on painting the human figure. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and suddenly finding himself without a model to paint, he decided to give plein air painting a shot. Since then, he has created the vast majority of his art outdoors.
Kristian loves to capture the effects of light with paint. He is drawn to dramatic lighting and enjoys finding the beauty in everyday scenes.
EDUCATION
2007 Graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND HONORS
2024
Best Oil Painting, Mendocino Open Paint Out, Mendocino, CA
Reserved Best of Show, Paint Sausalito, Sausalito, CA
Best of Show, Frank Bette Plein Air, Alameda, CA
1st Place, Bird Dog Plein Air Invitational, Bakersfield, CA
2023
1st Place, Capitola Plejn Air, Capitola, CA
Artists' Choice Award, Capitola Plein Air, Capitola, CA
Honorable Mention, Paint Sausalito, Sausalito, CA
Island Award, Frank Bette Plein Air, Alameda, CA
Honorable Mention, Lavender Fest Plein Air, Newberg, OR
3rd Place, Lost Sierra Plein Air, Quincy, CA
2nd Place, Bird Dog Arts Plein Air Invitational, Bakersfield, CA
2022
2nd Place, Capitola Plein Air, Capitola, CA
1st Place, Morgan Hill Paint Out, Morgan Hill, CA
Best in Show, Mendocino Open Paint Out, Mendocino, CA
Artists' Choice Award for Quick Draw, Frank Bette Plein Air, Alameda, CA
2nd Place, California State Fair Plein Air Competition
Honorable Mention, Paint Dublin, Dublin, CA
1st Place, Lost Sierra Plein Air, Quincy, CA
1st Place, Lost Sierra Plein Air Quickdraw, Quincy CA
People's Choice, Lost Sierra Plein Air Quickdraw, Quincy, CA
2021
Award of Merit, Frank Bette Plein Air, Alameda, CA
Early Bird Award, Mendocino Open Paint Out, Mendocino, CA
Honorable Mention, Mendocino Open Paint Out, Mendocino, CA
Honorable Mention, Capitola Plein Air, Capitola, CA
2019
First Place, "Around and About Diablo," Walnut Creek, CA
https://www.kristiantaylormatthews.com/fineart/kristian-matthews/beneath-diablo/742667
Third Place, People's Choice Award, Winters Plein Air Festival, Winters, CA
Top Prize in Paint Livermore Plein Air Event, Livermore, CA
https://www.kristiantaylormatthews.com/fineart/kristian-matthews/enjoying-the-shade-in-livermore/745460
Second Place, California State Fair Plein Air Competition
https://www.kristiantaylormatthews.com/fineart/kristian-matthews/the-spirit-of-the-fair/755955
Third Place, Marin County Fair Plein Air Competition
https://www.kristiantaylormatthews.com/fineart/kristian-matthews/ferris-wheel-shadows/755754
"Best Water Scene," Mendocino Open Paint Out, Mendocino, CA
https://www.kristiantaylormatthews.com/fineart/kristian-matthews/morning-in-mendocino/766949
Honorable Mention, Capitola Plein Air, Capitola, CA
https://www.kristiantaylormatthews.com/fineart/kristian-matthews/the-door/772350
2018
First Place in Quick Draw Event, "First Brush of Fall," Michigan City, IN
Third Place, "First Brush of Fall," Michigan City, IN
First Place in Plein Air Category, "Art on the Island," Holland MI
Third Place, "Paint Out the Town," Three Rivers, MI
2017
Second Place, "Art on the Island," Holland, MI
Exhibit at Terryberry Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI
Professional Affiliations
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association - Artist Member
California Art Club - Associate Artist
American Impressionist Society - Associate Artist