Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
My name is Nekesha Matthews and I was born and raised in Crossville TN.
And I got interested in art I think probably since the day I was born. Like my earliest
memory was my mom and sister would have a lot of yard sales. And I would go out in the
yard and pick up rocks, and paint rocks and sale them for like a dime. ( Laugh) And I
was so excited because one day this old man come up and he bought one, and I think that's
what started it there. So from there I was like drawing pictures and coloring things
and given them out to people. And I really enjoyed that.
In elementary school I was still kinda interested in art but it kinda fell back a little bit
because I didn't have that great of an art teacher going up when I was young. But then
in High School I got into it. Ms Arms was my art teacher and she really nourished my
creativity. And I really enjoyed that setting and that was kinda what got me into art at
the college level because she encouraged me so well.
In college I had a really great teacher Nancy McDonald, she was the best. She encouraged
me a lot too. So from there I moved forward with everything.
In college I felt like a lot of people wanted me to do more realistic things, with more
realistic real world colors. I didn't enjoy that. I didn't like it at all. So I would
experiment with different colors and that is how I got to use these really bright vibrant
colors that I like so well.
I think a lot of people felt uncomfortable with the subject matter because I really like
to use emotions in my things. Really strong emotion that I think make people uncomfortable.
Because in my life I have a lot of strong emotions. I mean sadness and longing, rage
and all these things. And I wanted to put it together in pictures and kinda throw that
out at people. And I felt that they did not really except that a lot.
My family is one of the biggest inspirations that I have. So I like to use their faces.
All these faces that you see in my work is my family. I mean my husband my sisters, myself.
I use everything about my family. But usually I look at them and they will make certain
facial expressions and I will say " That's what I want. Like recreate that I gotta take
that picture I wanna use that.' They are such an inspiration. But usually I will take pictures.
And I have stock piles of different pictures that I like to use. And one day I may be feeling
really sad so I will look back at all these pictures that I've got. I'll find one that
says "hey that's me. I am feeling that emotion right there." Then I will put that into the
picture.
I like contemporary artist. Jeanne Saville is one of my favorites. And I constantly look
back at her work. I like the colors that she uses. And the subject matter is kinda in your
face, kinda you don't want to look at it, and I like that.
I am kinda scared to show other people my work. Because I have never got good reactions
to it. They (people) kinda shyed away from it. And a lot of people don't accept it because
it's not the realistic thing that every body is use to. Especially around here, they want
the picture perfect thing. Like pictures of their grand kids in realistic pretty clothes
and dresses. That's just not me. In my life I am all about bold colors and experimenting.
It's just not accepted that much around here. I hate to say it. I wish it was.
I have always wanted to go to Chicago though. I have heard that is a large artistic place.
And I would love to visit there. I have heard they have a really big art museum. And I actually
had a lot of people tell me that I needed to get out of here. (Laugh) I needed to go
off to California because that's where the big money is. And they (Californians) would
love me there.