Mattie Perrigan-Biskup, Artist, SeascapesAndMore
Mattie Perrigan-Biskup is an American Oil Painter who resides in Sarasota, Florida. Growing up in Florida, where the beach is never too far, it's no surprise the ocean is her favourite muse. Her technique primarily focuses on creating dreamy but life-like oil seascape paintings.
With her paintings, she hopes to encourage others to help protect and preserve the ocean from all current and future problems. As well as share the beauty and diversity of the world by using intricate colour palettes, textures, and shape combinations found in our world and dreams alike.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Instagram/Facebook are my favourite social media platforms to utilize. They have provided an outlet to connect with people and fellow creatives from all over the world. They have also provided insight into valuable marketing tools and new ways of creating and sharing content, which is essential for marketing my portfolio.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
Before pursuing my passion for the arts, I worked in healthcare and have a B.S in Health Administration. In 2018, I picked up a paintbrush for the first time in nine years and never looked back. My painting style is ever evolving; I enjoy experimenting with new styles, but I would say my personal style is realism at its core, with impressionistic and even abstract influences.
I focus on not just colours or the atmosphere/emotion of the composition but enjoy creating illusions of realistic details that become more abstract the closer to the canvas you stand. When I step back from work, one of my goals is to make the viewer feel they could "walk into" my painting.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
One of the best things about being a professional artist is having the opportunity to make a living out of doing something that I love. One of my favourite quotes is, "Painting is my mistress, my wife, my friend, and my enemy. A complete addiction."
What is the best advice you have ever received?
"If you are afraid to suck at something, you will never try anything new."
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I am endlessly inspired by nature and have a rich imagination. I often daydream about my next painting, sometimes about places I've never been to/or places that don't even exist! Once the "seed" is planted, I use it as my baseline throughout my entire process.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I'm proud of myself for taking the road less travelled and not allowing fear of failure or judgment to stand in my way.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Social Media and Art Fairs/Exhibitions.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I've always been a highly motivated self-starter, and I thank my upbringing for that. I also enjoy uplifting others and finding optimism in all things. My propensity for stoic philosophy has allowed me to view life's challenges, opportunities, and misfortunes with a more propositional approach.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Trust the process.
Slow start, Slow Burn.
Just because you do not see immediate results doesn't mean your hard work isn't paying off. On the contrary, consistently showing up and doing the work is opening doors you can't even see yet.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I admire all my fellow creatives and entrepreneurs. I am lucky to live during an era where I can open any social media app and find endless inspiration.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I'm definitely a nature lover, and no surprise, the beach is my favourite place. My husband and I also enjoy kayaking, snorkelling, and boating both locally on the weekends and on longer trips. In addition, Florida has some amazing natural springs that have inspired quite a few of my paintings.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Although the pandemic was a terrible time for the world, it has positively affected me and my business in many ways. My online presence grew during this time, and I connected with many amazing fellow creatives and clients worldwide.
It created a sense of unity between us all and a support system during one of the most turbulent times in almost a century. My heart goes out to all the loved ones we lost.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have never hired anyone with the intent of being a mentor. Still, I have an amazing network of close ex-colleagues and professors who taught me valuable lessons that, even today, I could call on for guidance or support.
For Painting, I would say I also look at the old masters as mentors. The list could go on and on by Monet, Van Gogh, Ivan Aivazovsky, Turner, and Homer. I also look to literature for guidance and a strong inclination toward poets such as Dickinson, Frost, Whitman, Wilde, Plath, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
I'd advise people to be wary of the pressure of striving for perfection and mindful of where you place your energy. Dedicate time to learning skills outside of just your niche. Knowing your customers and how to engage with them to market your business is also important.
I was fortunate enough to have almost ten years of customer service under my belt when I started my creative endeavour. Still, I knew absolutely nothing about making digital content and, in the beginning, very little about being an artist too. So, I had to learn to find the balance between the three in order to be successful.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Striving for perfection and instant gratification. You will see stories of people who, within their first year, had astronomical sales and awards and grew 100k followers overnight, but for myself and many fellow creatives, I know - that is not our story. So be patient, but stay consistent.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
A few of my favourites are :
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature."
"Creativity takes courage."
"It is what it is."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I do strongly admire all fellow creatives and entrepreneurs. However, one of my favourite nonprofit organizations is the Sea Shepherd. They are an international marine conservation organization helping to conserve and protect marine wildlife from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. They work first-hand with national authorities to help enforce international and national laws to protect our oceans with their own fleet of ships.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
I believe the definition of success will vary depending on the person and really comes down to something from within and what said individual's goals are for their life. For some, it will be a simple cabin in the woods and be fully self-sustainable; for another, it will be running a Fortune 500 company. When I was in college, I can admit one of my main determining factors for going into healthcare was the salary and promotional opportunities. Having that sense of job security did correlate to success in my eyes. Now, I think the experience and connections I make along the way determine my success.