Portraits to Comfort, Encourage and Inspire

realistic acrylic portrait children walking in woods

"Picking up the Mantle" 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas, by artist Matt Philleo

"Rebuilding the Broken, 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas, depicting Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, an illustration by artist Matt Philleo for a book by Russell Stendal, published by Aneko Press, 2018

"Bethel Mural: The Gospel from Genesis to Revelation", by Dave Mattison and Matt Philleo, 2013, panel 2

"Bethel Mural: The Gospel from Genesis to Revelation", by artists Dave Mattison and Matt Philleo, 2013, panel 2, detail

"Victory in Surrender" 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas, by Matt Philleo.

Portraits to Comfort, Encourage and Inspire

Hi, I’m Matt Philleo. Since 1991, I have been creating detailed, realistic pencil drawings and acrylic paintings on commission and exhibition.

My goal is, through beautiful and emotive art, to bring comfort, encouragement, and inspiration, especially to the discouraged and brokenhearted, so they can experience true and lasting peace.

Please contact me if you have any questions and visit my blog posts to see my most current work. If you’d like to be added to my personal and confidential email list, sign up right here.

To learn more about my custom portraits, visit TraditionStudio.com, my official commissioned artwork page

Thanks for visiting!

“Inscribed”

14″ x 17″

Pencil on Paper

UPCOMING SHOWS:

11th Annual Artisans Showcase–Merrill, WI. February 9, 2019 | 12-4:30PM (More info)
Realistic Acrylic Portraits: A Two-Day Worskshop. March 12-13, 10:30AM-3:30PM (More info)

Here’s the Latest From My Blog…

Live Portrait Drawing in the Park

by Matt Philleo | Jun 9, 2018 | New Artwork

Yesterday, I did a live portrait drawing on commission out by Phoenix Park, in Eau Claire. I met with some people last year when I was doing portraits, but we weren’t able to connect for an actual drawing. So we set up a time and met at the gazebo right by the footbridge. I figured, that way if it rained, we would have plenty of cover. It was a bit cool, and it looked like it could rain, but we had no problems whatsoever. I really enjoyed drawing a portrait of these three girls live. It keeps my drawing skills fresh. It’s one thing to draw from a photo, but to draw a moving three dimensional person from life is another thing entirely. It usually takes me about 15 minutes per person, so about 45 minutes for a drawing of three people on one piece of paper. The clients were spending the day with their grandchildren, and now they have something tangible to capture the memory! Here is what they wrote about it after the event… “Thanks for the drawings of our granddaughters today. It was a very special experience! We’ll definitely share this experience with our friends. Best of luck always,” Kind regards, Mari and Keith Krenz If you would like a portrait drawn, just let me know. I truly enjoy doing it, and it would be a wonderful way to capture a memory. Have a blessed day, Matt Share Your Thoughts! If you have any comments or questions about what I wrote, please leave me your feedback below! I will personally get back to you. Can you... read more

New Children’s Book Illustration Project–Chapter 1

by Matt Philleo | Apr 28, 2018 | Illustration, My Art in Progress

I am doing more illustration work for author Karen Meyer. She’s writing a new children’s book about two boys, a ranch, some horses and a lot of adventure, titled The Young Man From India. This is the third book I am illustrating for her, and there is a fourth! She and her husband are wonderful people. My family and I personally met them and stayed at their house for a couple days, during Spring Break. Here is the illustration for Chapter 1, along with the actual story I’m endeavoring to bring alive. It’s a pencil on paper illustration, 5.5″ x 7.” Chapter One – It’s a Boy! Spencer ran into the house. “Mom! Mom! Where are You?” “You must be very excited. You just ran right past me. What is it, Spencer?” “Mom, it’s a boy!” “Oh, did Connie have her baby? A little boy. You’ll have to teach him how to ride and to love horses as much as you do.” “No, mom. An older boy, like me, moved onto the ranch next to ours. I saw the truck and the horse trailer.” “How do you know from such a distance that it’s a boy and not a girl that moved in?” “Mom, really. I saw him ride. No girl could ride the way he did. He must be like me because he couldn’t wait to take his horse out onto the ranch. He might have a sister. Or his mother is a very short woman.” “I think you’re looking at things from too far away. Why don’t you take Red and ride over. Introduce yourself. Ask if they want... read more

« Older Entries

Next Entries »