Matt Sissel - Commission

Matt Sissel has recently completed another commission - "Journey of Memories";  14" x 18"; Carbon on paper.  Matt received the commission based on a referral by a fellow student.  The client wanted a drawing that depicted her husband, his motorcycle, and the trips he has taken over the years.  The final work will be given to her husband as a surprise for their 25th wedding anniversary this coming June. 

Matt really enjoyed interacting with the client during the various stages of the drawing.  He made every attempt to understand her needs and desires regarding the final product and advised her of what he thought would be most aesthetically pleasing given the parameters.  In the end the client was very happy with the results.  One challenge that had to be overcome was the lack of reference due to the fact that the piece was a surprise for the subject!  Matt thinks this piece was a very important introduction to problem solving in client-artist relations.

Congratulations Matt!

About Matt Sissel:

I was formerly a combat medic for the US Army and served for 2 years in Iraq.  I was part of a small team charged with training and advising the Iraqi military.

I've always been interested in realistic art, having grown up with a wildlife artist as a father.  I took an art class for 2 weeks in college and dropped it, realizing they were never going to teach me what I wanted to know.  Because I didn't think I was that good at art, I didn't think of pursuing art as a career until discovering the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto.  Based on the student work at the school and their promise that art is a skill that can be taught, it was clear to me that I could get a world class education in realistic art.  I left school and headed to Toronto as soon as it became feasible.