As a child, Matt Rees could be found drawing.
If he had paper and a pencil or pen, Rees was there drawing animals.
"I'm not sure why kids gravitate towards one thing or another, but I always drew as far back as I can remember," Rees told The Putnam County Post.
By the time he arrived in high school, Rees was simply known by his classmates as the one who drew, admitting he fell into it as his identity.
"Drawing was also a way for me to deal with stress and those ups and downs of being a teenager. Another huge factor was my art teacher, North Putnam's brilliant, Linda Gjesvold. I think she recognized I was serious about art, so she let me explore it on my own terms. That kind of freedom was exactly what I needed. She also made it possible for me to take classes at Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis on the weekends, which I did. I'm indebted to her for that and my father for driving me back and forth. What I enjoy most about art is the pure adrenaline rush coming from that initial jolt of inspiration. Everything after is just chasing that feeling, which comes and goes while you work on the piece. I've gotten more into advocacy as I get older, using my art to fundraise, and I've found there is some satisfaction in watching a piece of art take on a life of its own and help empower something I care about," Rees said.
Over the years, Rees has done woodblock prints of the Putnam County Courthouse, various businesses in Greencastle, a woodblock print of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit at Gobin United Methodist Church in Greencastle and other pieces that are specific to Putnam County.
For him, it's been "wonderful" realizing how special his county is.
"I had the "too cool for school" attitude as a teen. I looked at Putnam County as a podunk town I needed to escape from. I didn't get very far. I live 10 minutes from where I grew up. It took me some time and maturity to realize how wonderful and special our county is," Rees said.
But, his speciality, is birds, local birds.
"I am fortunate that Putnam County is still largely rural and proud of it. We have important ecological habitats for my subject matter. Even more fortunate, we have strong advocacy in Putnam County and some wonderfully determined people who protect and expand this precious wilderness. So, yes, it is extremely important to me that my artwork reflects my community, that I highlight our local, wild spaces and avian species. Not only because they are beautiful, but also because they are under constant threat of destruction. And, if I could make a public service announcement here: dear reader, enjoy and use our Putnam County People's Pathways, our numerous nature parks and preserves, help support these spaces by becoming a member of Friends of the Park of Putnam County. Your small membership fee helps ensure we will always have these wonderful places to enjoy," Rees said.
While some artists may dabble in painting or photography or a combination, Rees prides himself on being a woodblock printer, despite starting in traditional oil and watercolor painting.
"Most of my heroes are painters. But a few years ago, I saw an interview with world famous printmaker, Tom Huck, of St. Louis. I'd seen some of his work in museums and I'd always admired woodblock prints in general, but I'd never been exposed to the process. I was mesmerized by that interview with Tom Huck, and long story short, I ended up apprenticing with him at his print shop, Evil Prints. This eventually led to me starting my own print shop here in Putnam County, Wildwood Press," Rees said.
He admits woodblock printing appeals to him for a variety of reasons.
"One, the artform was invented in 300 A.D. and hasn't changed much since. For a guy who grew up in the 80's, that's as analog as you can get, and I strongly resonate with that, especially now. Secondly, most of my strengths as an artist do not apply to this artform. I'm good with color. Woodblock prints require as little color as possible. I'm good at making a mess. You must be meticulously neat in printmaking. I'm good with free flowing, let's see what happens spontaneously. Everything in a woodblock print must be carefully planned out. And all that planning doesn't change the fact that I'm having a conversation with a piece of wood, once a living entity, and that entity has its own ideas and opinions as to how the final art will turn out. I know it sounds a little strange to be attracted to that. I'd say it's a lot like my favorite dog in my world, my blue heeler, Frankie. She opposes and confounds every plan I have, and I love her to death for it. That's what woodblock printing is like. Maybe I just thrive on the struggle," Rees said.
For more information on the Friends of the Park of Putnam County, visit https://putnamparks.org/support and more information on Rees can be found at www.mreesart.com.
