The human form has been artistically portrayed for centuries; however artwork reflecting emotional expression and emotional interpretations is an ever-developing study.  My art is deeply influenced by people.  Simple individual characteristics all the way to the complicated interactions of society play a consistent role in the driving force of my life.  An emotional connection is created every time two or more people interact.  This internal sensation can be attributed to the complicated inner workings of the human brain.  Describing this reaction through the traditional means of speaking and writing seems too structured and contained to truly represent the internal feelings of people.  The creation of artwork, to me, is a primary vehicle for the deeper understanding of people and their invisible vibrations of feeling. 

            Modern scientific studies such as Psychology and Sociology influence my reasoning and study of human beings.  An indescribable force of progress and the desire to endure drives the human species.  These natural forces impact people in their choices about life and play a role in our growth of understanding why people act the way they do.  The study of human sciences underlies much of my thought process in the development of a painting.  My actual experiences with people dominate as an influential factor in my viewpoint towards human connections.  In comparison with the study of history, you can learn a lot by reading a book but actual experiences include more than just the facts.  I observe as much as possible, taking in all of my emotional reactions to any given circumstance. 

            Much of my art is created out of my imagination.  Numerous references such as life drawing, photographs, and media images combine to form a base for my work.  Once I feel strong about my idea the emotional connections are incorporated in selected areas, creating a variety of emphasis.  This process combines with my idea that color choices should come from a feeling, rather than structured reasoning.  Color choices, to me, should not be based upon guidelines; they come from a reaction in my mind to a circumstance.  My portrait pieces, for example, draw inspiration from the emotional connection of the model and me.  The color choice I make will depend upon the mood or my intended expression.  The color blue could, but not necessarily, represent sad or cold sensations.  I feed off of the overall feeling in most situations. 

            An attempt to capture and express other people’s emotions is a never-ending story in my goal of better knowing people.  In addition to colorful emotions, figurative distortions represent the imperfect truths of reality.  Most portrait artwork focuses on a person in a set and somewhat artificial pose. I try to capture a more spiritual representation of my subjects, which rarely includes a posed smiling mask.   

ABOUT THE STYLE

Matt Kupke’s artwork is deeply influenced by the artistic freedom so vividly expressed by the early pioneers of cubism.  The loose line quality, arbitrary color choices and a variety of paint application give Kupke’s work an extra element of surprise, echoing the tension and vitality of abstract expressionism.   

Traditionalist painters sought to mirror, or even idealize, their vision of reality, unlike the modernists who utilize emotional manipulation to alter or distort reality, for various reasons--aesthetic or obscure. 

This emotional manipulation makes a deep impact on how Kupke views the world, and in turn how he makes choices while creating art. 

Music offers an additional influence on Kupke's work.  He will often play different styles of music successively as he paints, depending upon his intended expression.  Techno, ambient beats, classical, and a variety of instrumental jam bands make up his audio stimuli.  Because he believes that emotions are too complex to be fully described verbally, most of his musical choices do not contain vocal elements.     

Matt Kupke is constantly searching for new, exciting, even exotic ideas for his painting.  Each day offers a fresh opportunity; each night a new dream.  He believes the intricacies of emotion in combination with a seemingly endless ability for human creativity equals a future of new art.

GALLERY