by Matt Philleo | Nov 17, 2016 | Art Shows, Encouraging Thoughts
About a year ago, I was asked to illustrate a children’s book called the “The Boy in a Tree,” written by my sister’s friend, Pamela Boodle, a resident of Schofield, WI. We now recently published the book–a 30 page, full color story of a boy with special needs named Nick who has a fascination and relentless interest in climbing trees. And not just any tree. He searches for trees “with branches made just right for climbing and up, up, up he goes.”
Nick has a different perspective on life. He simply enjoys being out in nature and being himself. He is not distracted by all the things that most people are and is free to love, to be silly, and to spend time with the people he cares most about.
“The Boy in a Tree,” pages 9 & 10
The story in this book really spoke to me, as I can relate. I have a son with special needs as well. While reading the manuscript, I was nearly moved to tears, and I felt the connection. I knew I needed to illustrate the book for Pam.
A few days ago I did an interview with the author, asking her about the inspiration behind the book. I’d like to share her thoughts with you…
Me: Tell me a little about yourself.
Pam: I live in northern Wisconsin with my husband of 38 years. We have two married children and eight grandchildren. We are guardians of a niece and nephew who still reside with us. I have been involved with various children’s ministries for over 25 years. My heart’s passion and joy has been working with children with special needs.
Me: Where did the inspiration/ idea come for this book?
Pam: Our nephew, Nicholas, was born with cognitive disabilities. His love for the outdoors and especially climbing the perfect tree was the inspiration for the book.
Me: Why did you want to get the message contained in the book out?
Pam: Nick’s child-like outlook brings a newfound sense and appreciation for “what matters most” in life and the beauty that is all around us if only we take time to see it.
Me: What things do you think people will gain by reading it?
Pam: I believe readers of all ages could benefit from this story as it seeks to draw awareness, but most importantly, instill a greater appreciation for those with disabilities and what we can learn from their lives.
Me: Have you ever written books or other pieces of writing before? If so, what?
Pam: I have written personal stories and songs for friends and family.
Me: How did you choose an illustrator for the book?
Pam: I truly believe God brought us together and feel blessed to have Matt as the illustrator of The Boy in A Tree. He is a gifted artist that brought “life” to this project with his sensitivity to this subject matter. But mostly, I appreciate his passion and how he prayerfully pours his heart and soul into all his art, for the glory of God.
Me: Do you intend on writing more books in the future?
Pam: I would love to as the Lord leads. I am currently working on a children’s series on the character of God.
Both Pam and her husband Jeff were so kind and generous to me in the production of this book. You can meet Pam and learn more about this book and the inspiration behind it in person. Pam and I will be having a book signing event Saturday December 3rd, from 1-4 p.m at my studio–Artisan Forge Studios, 1106 Mondovi Rd. in Eau Claire.
You are invited! We will have copies of “Boy in a Tree” available and we would love to sign a copy for you. There will be refreshments available as well.
“The Boy in a Tree” Bookmark for Book Signing Event with Pam Booodle and Matt Philleo, Dec 3, 1-4 pm at Artisan Forge Studios, 1106 Mondovi Rd, Eau Claire, WI
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by Matt Philleo | Nov 11, 2016 | Encouraging Thoughts, My Art in Progress, Personal Inspiring Stories
It was November 11, 1919.
A year ago on that same day, Germany and the Central Powers agreed to put a stop to the war, laying down their arms and agreeing to the terms of peace set forth by the Allies. President Woodrow Wilson wrote a message to the people of America on this first commemorative Armistice Day:
“…The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men. To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with – solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.”
“Cafe on the Somme,” 24 x 30, Acrylic on Canvas, 1993, by artist Matt Philleo
Armistice Day was later officially changed to Veteran’s Day in 1954. This is a day that we honor veterans, not just those who have died in service, but the living as well.
Both my grandfather and grandmother served in World War II. My grandfather was a pilot who did bombing missions in the Philippines, and my grandmother was a troop transport pilot, spunky and zealous enough to get in the army at age 16 (beats trying to get in a bar under-aged, right?). They met there during service and later got married upon returning home at the conclusion of the war.
My brother in law is a veteran from the Iraq conflict, having served two tours of duty there. He sacrificed a lot of time to serve our country.
I know we say it so much that it seems cliche, but it’s true…
Our veterans served our country well and kept our freedoms secure–either by paying with their life, braving the ever-present threat of losing their life, or perhaps the worst: enduring the trauma of seeing their best friends dying in horrific ways.
We owe them a debt of gratitude.
A few years ago, I created a portrait for a friend from my church who served in the army. He lost his wife due several health problems, and I wanted to encourage him by giving him something to commemorate the memory of his wife.
This is the photo that he gave me to work from:
Photo of Gerald and Mavis J., on their wedding day
Since it was black and white I didn’t know what the colors were on his uniform. He offered to give the uniform to me, but I thought, “No, I better just take a picture of it instead. I sure don’t want to get paint on it!”
As for the colors of the flowers, I didn’t think he would remember after nearly 60 years, but I asked my mother-in-law. Without any trouble, she advised, “Oh yeah, those must be pinks, and those are carnations, and here’s the colors they would probably be.”
So with that information, I got to work.
Here are some in-progress pics of the painting. I start off with just a sketch, and then build up several translucent layers of acrylic paint using the Renaissance Master’s glazing technique.
Portrait painting of Gerald and Mavis J, by artist Matt Philleo, in progress
A painting like this can easily take 30+ hours. But when considering the final goal of the project: encouraging a friend in his loss, every minute is worth it. After he received the painting, my friend wrote:
“Dear Matthew:
RE: Wedding Portrait–
Your loving kindness and genuine concern has deeply touched my heart, and will impact the hearts and minds of other for generations to come……….
God’s anointing on your work is a very special blessing–that reaches beyond the materials and talent–and moves with spiritual brushstrokes to paint love on the canvas of our hearts………….
E.M. Bonds says: God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They live outside the lives of those who utter them.’ Know that I am praying for you!
Like prayer–your work can be deathless, touching the lives of other for God’s plan through the strokes of eternity hidden in them…
Mavis always loved you–and I know she would be pleased and emotionally moved by your work.
Till she sees you again someday–thank you for your kindness and friendship and your Love.
“Shalom”,
Gerald
P.S. This small military remembrance is a token of our love.”
With that, he gave me some of his uniform accoutrements–buttons and his insignia. It was a blessing to be able to do that portrait for my friend and encouraging to get a letter like that. And here is the final 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas portrait.
Wedding Portrait of Gerald and Mavis J., 16 x 20, Acrylic on Canvas, 2013, by Eau Claire fine artist Matt Philleo
I am hoping I can run into a veteran tomorrow. Many times you will see veterans in front of stores and at the post office on Veterans day. It’s more than worth it to spend a dollar on a “buddy poppy” and shake their hand and thank them for their service. Do you know a veteran who’s shut in? Pay them a visit. Just spending some time with them will encourage them and you may find yourself encouraged too as you listen to them share their stories.
Who are some veterans you know, and would you like to share any of their stories right now?
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by Matt Philleo | Jul 30, 2016 | Christianity & Culture, Encouraging Thoughts, New Artwork
Will we get to see our lost loved ones again after we die?
This is a question that has both haunted and comforted humanity for thousands of years. The answers people have given to this question have caused the rise and fall of empires from ancient Egypt to the schism in the Catholic Church during the Reformation.
No book discusses this issue more plainly than the Bible. In its pages, you can find the meaning of life today and discover amazing hope for the next life as well. The Bible teaches clearly that all who believe in Jesus for salvation will get to see their lost loved ones, who have also believed, after death. It will be a glorious, happy reunion, where God promises to wipe every tear.
Here is what Jesus said about it in the book of John 11, verse 25:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”
Custom commissioned pencil portrait sketch, a memoriam, by artist Matt Philleo, 16 x 20, completed in July 2016.
Earlier in the month, I finished this commissioned 16″ x 20″ drawing for a lady named Karla I met on Facebook through a mutual friend from church. She went through the unfortunate, tragic event of her husband disappearing almost four years ago and being declared dead. Then her son, who had special needs and health problems, died several months ago.
What incredible suffering and loss to have to go through! I could scarcely imagine it.
She asked me if I could draw a portrait of what their reunion might have been like in heaven.
I was thrilled to be able to draw this for her, to capture that special moment when her son, in the presence of Jesus, completely healed, jumped off his wheelchair and ran to see his daddy.
Here is what she wrote when I sent her the proof:
“I have not been able to stop crying….you captured something I cannot even explain! I have never seen Jacob standing like that, so that REALLY got me and the look on Dave’s face is SOOOO spot on. I can honestly picture this as what happened. The joy for both of them must have been unreal. Thank you so much!!! I have time on Wed. all day if we could meet. Otherwise, just let me know what would work!”
Karla
And then after she received the actual drawing, she wrote this to share:
“My husband Dave went missing on 9/22/12 and to date, his body has not been found. We all feel however that his soul has reached heaven. My son Jacob, who had severe disabilities, suffered greatly when his daddy went missing. It was hard enough for us to understand, nonetheless Jacob.
“On November 20, 2015, Jacob suffered a severe brain injury and was pronounced brain dead. As he took his last breaths, I told him when he saw Daddy to run as fast as he could. With tears in his eyes, he took his last breath.
Commissioned pencil portrait by artist Matt Philleo, 2016, detail
“This moment was one I could visualize and so deeply wanted it captured in art. Expectations of what I would see and what I actually received, were far exceeded. The joy that is shown on Jacob’s face is contagious. Many commented that they felt they could hear Jacob giggle just looking at his face.
“Tears filled my eyes as I saw my son standing for the first time in his life.”
“I can feel the anticipation of leaving his chair behind to run to his beloved dad.
“Dave was in an amazing father, especially to Jacob. It took my breath away when I saw the look on Dave’s face. He had a way of holding his mouth and cheeks when he was so happy, he was ready to cry. I had not provided any pictures to Matt that showed this expression. All I can say is that Matt was led by Jesus to capture that which was SO important to me….the look I knew Dave would have when he saw his son again.
Pencil portrait artist Matt Philleo’s client, Karla S., holding a drawing he did of her late son and husband in July 2016.
“I cannot even begin to say how healing it was to have this portrait done. The loss of not only my husband but also my son, has been so painful. The peace I felt is beyond understanding. It felt wonderful to “see” them again. Thanks again, so much for your amazing gift!”
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by Matt Philleo | Jul 4, 2016 | Encouraging Thoughts
This is going to be a much shorter post than usual. I’d like to share a mural I did back in 2004 at Kenner Clinic Army Hospital in Ft. Lee, VA, with a successful Florida muralist, Bob Jenny.
I completed this mural mostly by myself, while he was working on other murals. At that time, he was suffering from cancer and with his health rapidly deteriorating, I ended finishing all the murals within the hospital.
In the spirit of Independence Day, The mural I’m showing is a tribute to our veterans who have served so well in defending out freedoms. Part of the army staff that is sometimes not remembered as much is the army medic. They suffered the same things on the combat field as the rest of the army, but their main purpose was administering medical care on the combat field and saving lives of fallen comrades.
Here a mural I did showing the army medic helping a wounded soldier with compassion and disciplined treatment of his wounds. The mural is meant to look like a three-dimensional bronze sculpture set within a marble alcove. This “trompe-l’oeil” (French for “fool the eye”) technique is challenging to pull off convincingly, but very rewarding to look at when you are done with it. The entire mural, including the marble blocks, were painted on a flat wall.
“Army Medic Sculpture Mural,” by artists Matt Philleo and Bob Jenny, 2004, Kenner Clinic, Ft. Lee, VA
“Army Medic Sculpture Mural,” by artists Matt Philleo and Bob Jenny, 2004, Kenner Clinic, Ft. Lee, VA, detail
In addition to that, knowing that the veterans who come into the hospital for routine checkups and sometimes life-threatening diseases, possibly could receive some encouragement from the murals Bob and I did, really made the project worthwhile. These veterans felt in many ways they were just everyday people doing what needed to be done, but they are heroes for their sacrifice and commitment to uphold the rich, godly heritage of this country from those who would try to usurp our freedom.
As you watch the fireworks, take a moment and remember the deadly bombs and missiles that these brave men and women endured for you and me. And if you are in America enjoy the wonderful freedom you have today to celebrate life and spend time as you choose with your family and friends. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
Do you have anyone in your family serving or who has served in the military? Would you like to share a tribute to them?
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by Matt Philleo | Jun 26, 2016 | Encouraging Thoughts, New Artwork
If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know that I often use my works of art as a conversation piece. The art becomes an avenue of dialogue, and sometimes the conversation diverges off the path of the original idea conveyed in the work, just like you may compliment your friend on their tasteful decor, and then moments later you segue into talking about how you and your best friend met.
I think this is what will happen with today’s post. I hope you don’t mind. 🙂
I recently got back from a wonderful vacation in Michigan visiting friends over in the Detroit area, and then had a beautiful, scenic drive through the U.P. We stayed overnight in Escanaba, and in the morning our kids played at a vacant and refreshing beach.
A scenic beach in Escanaba, MI
With this time away from the studio, I came back refreshed, but had to stoke the coals a bit to get the productive artist in me going again after a week of inactivity!
Monday afternoon, some classmates from high school made the two-hour drive from Merrill, WI to Eau Claire to pick up this wedding portrait I did for them. I love how it turned out, and as I told them, it all starts with an excellent photo to work from. The pose is natural and the they are a good looking couple.
“Jaeger Wedding Portrait,” by portrait artist Matt Philleo, 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas
This was a candid shot taken right before the grand march, and perfectly captures the overflowing joy of the celebration of their new life together.
Here is a photo of them in front of the painting. Nearly twenty years and still going strong!
Celebrating nearly 20 years of happy marriage.
From my recent visit with them at my studio, and prior to that, at the Merrill High Alumni Art Show in February, they seem to be a truly happy couple, and a great match. I believe God has blessed them indeed in many ways.
Now this is where the conversation will veer off the path just a bit. But I think you’ll find I’ll still be driving on the right side of the road as we go along in this discussion!
I can understand how people that are well suited to each other in marriage can have many blissful, stable years together. You know the kind of marriage I’m talking about: Ward and June Cleaver, where everything is tidy, docile, and neatly tucked in behind a white picket fence where a happy nuclear family lives their picture-perfect life.
But what do you do when you and your spouse are two very different people and things aren’t working out the way you want?
What do you do when the flame is an ember nearly snuffed out and sometimes you interact with each other like oil and water, fire and ice, Packers and Vikings fans…you get the point!
As far as this couple I did the portrait for goes, naturally I don’t know entirely what their situation was and is. They were high school sweethearts and probably get along great together, but I’m sure they have had to work at their relationship like the rest of us.
Now to take it a step further, maybe you have struggled severely in your marriage, and you have discovered your spouse is not the person you thought when you married them (and the feeling is mutual!) You have weathered severe financial and health trials, difficulties, personality conflicts, challenging extended family relationships, and destructive arguments with each other, and yet you have still managed to stay together.
To you, I lift my hat. I think this is a miracle.
I know it has been for me and my wife.
We are two very different people and have such different perspectives on so many things. We didn’t really know the full extent of this before getting married. We just liked hanging out with each other and the relationship grew. Oh, we had some hints that we may have “compatibility issues” but we loved each other and thought those things would just work their way out naturally.
Those issues worked their way out, all right. In many an argument, both loud and even worse, in the bitter, seething, silent treatment that often is far more damaging. If it were not for the grace of God, I can honestly say my wife and I would be divorced several times over!
“The Silent Treatment”, photo by Matt Philleo
You’ve heard the sad statistics on today’s marriages–that more than half end in divorce. There are so many things in today’s culture that can drive a couple apart: financial strain, health problems, infidelity exacerbated by the explicit culture, and constraints on family time.
After dealing with divisiveness in your relationship for a while, you can start to have serious doubts.
However, I learned an important truth from a preacher, Paul Washer, I heard on an online sermon one day. This secret has helped me so much when I’ve been tempted to give up:
You didn’t marry the wrong person.
God is sovereign. He created the world, including us, and holds it all together. He gave us free will, but even within the freedom He has given us to make choices, He ultimately calls all the shots. The game is rigged, but in a good way. It’s like the casino where you can play every slot machine in the line, and the house always has the advantage. They know the kind of results you’ll get, even though you choose where and how you’ll play. It’s like this with God, except He is good, kind and benevolent, and not anything like a profiteering casino owner. He has a purpose and a plan. It’s good, and He will carry it out, using everything to His advantage.
God, in His sovereignty, (especially if you are a Christian), has allowed you to be matched up with a person that lacks many of the very things you wanted in a mate.
Why would He do that?
The primary reason is so that you will learn to depend upon the grace of God and be conformed to the image of Christ.
In other words, you will feel so hopeless sometimes that you will cry out to God for help.
Not only that, but the other person’s difficult, abrasive behavior (at least so it feels to you) will sand off your rough edges like sandpaper. You will learn what it is like to love someone you feel is not worthy of your love. In essence, you will experience, at least to a slight degree, what Jesus feels when He loves us–broken, rebellious, and wicked as we are.
And as He loves us, and we receive His love, that’s what brings a change. We respond to that faithful love and say, “If God is that good to me, let me live my life for Him. Let me love Him back!” We can do this same thing for our spouse. We can love them and watch them change as a result. But even if takes years, we can learn patience in the process and grow more like God day by day.
My wife and I in our renaissance-themed wedding attire.
Another wonderful thing is that God, also in His sovereignty, has given you a spouse who is strong in all the areas they must be strong in, because He never gives us more than we can handle.
The apostle Paul wrote about this idea in his first letter to the Corinthians, recorded in chapter 10, verse 13:
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
So if you are tempted to throw in the towel, don’t. There is always more grace to endure, if you’ll ask God for it.
God has given us a spouse that, even though they rub us the wrong way sometimes, together we can create electricity like a balloon on a wool sweater!
For example, my wife is the more logical one in the relationship, whereas I am more of the emotional type. She balances me out. I may see an opportunity and want to dive in, but she will caution me from being too eager, driven by my passion rather than taking a cold look at the facts. Listening to her counsel (need to do more of that) has saved me from many blunders.
The biggest thing that has kept my wife and I together is our commitment to forgive. We have both fired cannons at each other and hurt each other with our words and actions many times, but one thing we do is forgive…and quickly. All I have to do is think about how much the Lord has forgiven me, and how desperately I want to feel His love, embrace and presence after sinning against Him or others, that I can’t afford to hold a grudge against my wife. Not even for a minute.
I have been tempted to punch walls, like I used to do before I was a Christian.
As recently as just this week.
But I took the anger, the blinding rage and dropped it all in front of the Lord as I fell to my knees. And although I’d like to say I had instant, perfect peace, the animosity was at least soothed and I could think clearly again. My wife and I then talked the issue out and forgave each other and that was that.
When I think about the last twelve years of marriage, I can truly say I love my wife more today than I did gazing at her beautiful face at the altar. Because it’s one thing to love when your emotions are soaring, expectations are high, and life up until that point has been mostly pleasant, but it’s another thing entirely to love when your emotions have gone down the drain, your expectations are dashed, and you life has been both unfair and often unpleasant.
Love is not a feeling but a choice.
Love is not a cohabitation, but a commitment.
Love is not clean, but it is cleansing.
How about you? If you are married, what has kept you and your spouse together? Do you have any advice or wisdom to share? Thanks!
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by Matt Philleo | Jun 3, 2016 | Encouraging Thoughts
The passing of Memorial Day heralds the beginning of summer and with it, the camping season. I love this time of year. The weather is still fairly temperate and the days are long.
I also love camping.
It’s the combination of cooking fire over the open flame, and “roughing it”–leaving many of the conveniences and distractions of home behind that charms me.
More than that, it’s wonderful to be out in nature where you can be calmed by the green, translucent canopy above, the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind and dragonflies buzzing, and to be able to take scenic hikes at leisure.
My wife was hiking on a beautiful sunlit trail at
Copper Falls State Park in Northern Wisconsin, carrying our daughter on her shoulders, and I snapped the photo that this painting was based on.
“Waking Up the Woods,” Acrylic on Canvas, by Matt Philleo
Below is a commissioned portrait sketch I did that celebrates that love of camping. This drawing was made from an older photo, decades old if I remember correctly.
Here we can see the husband and wife just enjoying being out together camping, and they look pretty happy. This freehand drawing took a few hours and, although not at my more photorealistic level of work, I think it captures the feel of the picture without too much fuss.
“Good Old Fashioned Camping,” 11 x 14 pencil on paper, by Matt Philleo
For folks that camp at the same place every year, their spot can begin to mean a lot to them–a home away from home. Here is a drawing I did for an old friend from high school based off a photo of his parents’ cabin.
“The Johnson Cabin,” 11 x 14, pencil on paper, by Matt Philleo
After the drawing was done, they gave it to them as a gift. Pretty thoughtful gift!
Ok, I have to admit, I’m kind of big pyro.
For me, the campfire is at least 50% of the fun of camping, and I pride myself on being able to start and keep a campfire going, without buckets of gasoline and scorched fingers. I would rather cook a pizza over an open campfire in an oven any day.
I was never in Boy Scouts, but as an adult, I did learn to create a fire the old-fashioned way: by rubbing two sticks together. Well, actually, I used the “bow drill” method, where you take a curved stick with a taut string tied to either end and use its tension to rapidly drill a wooden dowel into a block of soft wood. That, in turn creates burnt sawdust which eventually ignites a coal that you can blow into a flame.
Starting a fire the old fashioned way.
The seed of a fire: the glowing coal.
By the way, when God sees a flicker of life within us, a dim spark of hope within possibly shattered dreams and unfulfilled expectations, and even possibly the wreckage left behind a myriad of poor decisions, He won’t cast us off. He’ll take that smoldering ember and breathe life into it, fanning it into a flame.
Fire ready to cook on!
It’s wonderful to be warmed and to cook over a fire that you made with your bare hands! And when you top off that meal with a nice toasted marshmallow enjoyed in good company, it doesn’t get much better than that!
Here is a portion of a mural I did for the Merrill School Forest, commemorating some of the folks that volunteered their time and talents to encourage children to appreciate nature.
Portion of the School Forest Mural, 4′ x 6′ Acrylic on Hardboard, by Matt Philleo
If you haven’t already, get out there and enjoy God’s creation and spend time with your friends and family with a camping trip! Are there any interesting camping experiences you’d like to share? Let me know!
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