When I look back over the years on my artistic influences, I think of the many great Art teachers that I had: Steve Roundy, Ralph Gibbons, Vaughn Perkins, Robert Bird, Leon Parson, Bob DeWitt, and Michael Day. However, another great one of my artistic influences was not a teacher, but actually a classmate and friend, Matt Clark.
I met Matt Clark at Kaysville Junior High School during the school year of 1980-81. We quickly became good friends and found that we both had a common interest in Art. We continued our friendship through junior high at KJHS, and later for a year at Farmington Junior High School. Somehow, we never had an Art class together during our junior high school years, although we discussed and even collaborated on artwork during that time.
When we arrived at Davis High School in 1983, we had the opportunity to choose our own schedules and took many classes together, including all of our Art classes. I sat next to Matt in Art classes for three years at DHS (our teacher was kind enough to let us select our own seats), and a very serious Art education for me ensued as I sat a foot away from the best artist I knew.
This "education" was both an inspiring and humbling experience for me. Matt offered help, encouragement, and constructive criticism when I was frustrated or stuck, or when my artistic enthusiasm overwhelmed my degree of skill. It was a humbling experience as it only took a glance at Matt's project to know I had much to improve upon. Never once did my project or assignment equal or surpass Matt's degree of skill or achievement on his project or assignment. As I look back on that, it could have been a source of discouragement, and I could have given up, or become bitter. Instead, I used his standard of excellence to raise my own, and at the end of my senior year I was chosen as "The Most Improved Artist" at DHS. Without a doubt Matt's proximity, criticism, help, and encouragement contributed to my improvement and progress.
Upon graduating from DHS in 1986, we both decided to go to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, where we would be roommates, and would continue our Art Education. We looked forward to being instructed by Leon Parson, a renowned wildlife artist. Once again, in Art classes I sat next to Matt, and continued my progress, although as before, Matt remained far ahead. After that first year of college we both served LDS missions in South America, Matt in Chile, and I in Brazil. Sadly, upon our return, Matt chose to pursue other interests outside of Art, while I continued to chase my artistic dreams. We drifted apart, the time spent pursuing Art together now over, but not forgotten.
Recently, I've reconnected with Matt, and he has graciously given me access to many of his artworks which you'll see displayed below. Most of them were done as I watched and worked by his side. I hope you will enjoy them and be inspired by them, just as I was, and still am. JC.
