Paula Matzinger
Northern California artist, poet, essayist,
singer/songwriter, musician, wife and mother
My introduction to art began as a child, seeing my grandfather and mother’s paintings displayed in our house. In the years since, I’ve carried these images with me, though I didn’t begin to paint until after careers in Landscape Architecture, and Graphic Design.
Brightly hued California landscapes are a favorite subject of mine, reminiscent of my grandfather’s early California plein air paintings. I paint in oils when outside, enjoying the Sonoma County countryside. But I also use acrylics in my studio, painting from my own digital photos.
My mother’s artwork also influences my landscape, portrait, figure and still-life. I share her desire to paint everyday objects, and the people, animals and landscapes that spark my emotional or aesthetic interest. Like her, I prefer a loose, expressionist style.
Unlike my mother or grandfather, I sometimes wander into abstraction, influenced by contemporary and abstract painting studies I pursued at UC Berkeley years ago, and Santa Rosa Junior college more recently. Also, perspective is often a strong element in my compositions, reflecting years of drafting and renderings necessary in architecture and graphics.
I constantly experiment and learn as I paint. Though I know my approach is determined by the influences of my past, each new painting I start seems to emerge, as if on its own. I am often left surprised at what appears on my canvas.
