Affiliations: Pastel Society of America, Miniature Artists of America - Signature Member, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society, Pastel Society of Central Florida.
Email: hmathyssen@yahoo.com
I have always had a love and appreciation of art. I believe that my artistic abilities were inherited from my father who also possessed a great talent for drawing. He often encouraged me to use my artistic talent. I continue to honor him by signing my work using my maiden name Mathyssen.
I began oil painting at the age of 12 and started using pastels in high school. During this period of my life art class centered around modern art, a style that does not come naturally to me. Class projects became a burden and took the enjoyment out of creating art so I chose a different career path. I put art on the back burner for many years. My only formal college art course was Art Appreciation. Although many would label me as a self-taught artist, I don't consider that phrase quite accurate. I have read numerous books and studied many paintings by different artists. I also had the opportunity to have taken pastel workshops with Robert Carsten, Elizabeth Mowry, Stan Sperlak, Gary Rupp, Aaron Schuerr and Christina DeBarry. Much of what I have learned is due to what other artists have shared with me; either by the written word, examples of their work, sitting in on demonstrations or through conversation. The self-taught experience comes from many hours of painting on my own. I learn by doing and frequently experiment with different techniques. Even if a painting has not met my expectations, the experience was still a worthwhile lesson.
Although I like painting a variety of subject matter, I particularly enjoy landscapes. We have become so busy in our daily lives that we fail to see the beauty around us. Through my art, I feel as though I am preserving nature's beauty. My goal is not to merely record exactly what I see but express what I feel about what I am seeing. I find it very rewarding when a painting creates an emotional connection with the viewer.
I began oil painting at the age of 12 and started using pastels in high school. During this period of my life art class centered around modern art, a style that does not come naturally to me. Class projects became a burden and took the enjoyment out of creating art so I chose a different career path. I put art on the back burner for many years. My only formal college art course was Art Appreciation. Although many would label me as a self-taught artist, I don't consider that phrase quite accurate. I have read numerous books and studied many paintings by different artists. I also had the opportunity to have taken pastel workshops with Robert Carsten, Elizabeth Mowry, Stan Sperlak, Gary Rupp, Aaron Schuerr and Christina DeBarry. Much of what I have learned is due to what other artists have shared with me; either by the written word, examples of their work, sitting in on demonstrations or through conversation. The self-taught experience comes from many hours of painting on my own. I learn by doing and frequently experiment with different techniques. Even if a painting has not met my expectations, the experience was still a worthwhile lesson.
Although I like painting a variety of subject matter, I particularly enjoy landscapes. We have become so busy in our daily lives that we fail to see the beauty around us. Through my art, I feel as though I am preserving nature's beauty. My goal is not to merely record exactly what I see but express what I feel about what I am seeing. I find it very rewarding when a painting creates an emotional connection with the viewer.
Awards:
2024
First Place in Landscape - 49th International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin, FL.
2023
Second Place in Painting - 50th Annual Temple Terrace Arts and Crafts Festival, Temple Terrace, FL.
Third Place in Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 90th Annual International Fine Art in Miniature, Washington, D.C.
Award of Distinction- 51st Spring Arts Festival, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL.
2022
Third Place in Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 89th Annual International Fine Art in Miniature, Washington, D.C.
Second Place in Painting - 47th Annual Temple Terrace Arts and crafts Festival, Temple Terrace, FL.
First Place in Drawing and Pastel - 47th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin, FL.
Second Place - It's A Small World Exhibit, Pastel Society of Central Florida, Casselberry, FL.
People's Choice Award - It's A Small World Exhibit, Casselberry, FL.
2021
Award of Distinction - Inverness Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL
Second Place in Painting - 48th Annual Temple Terrace Art and Crafts Festival, Temple Terrace, FL.
Honorable Mention - National Small Works Fine Art "Lucky 13" Competition & Exhibition, Mesquite, Nevada.
Alpha Voyage Award - Red Rock Pastel Society Of Nevada Juried Member Show, Las Vegas, NV.
Honorable Mention in Landscape - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 88th Annual International Fine Art in Miniature, Washington, D.C.
2020
Second Place - National Small Works Fine Art "Lucky 13" Competition & Exhibition, Mesquite, Nevada
Best In Show - Pastel Society of Central Florida 10th Anniversary Exhibit, Leesburg, FL
Third Place - Casselberry Art House Virtual Exhibit, Casselberry, FL
Miniature Artists of America Award of Excellence - 45th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin,FL
2019
First Place in Painting - 46th Annual Temple Terrace Art and Craft Festival, Temple Terrace, Fl.
Third Place in Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 86th Annual International Fine Art In Miniature, Washington DC
Award of Merit - Living Waters Exhibit, Enterprise Heritage Center, Enterprise, FL
Honorable Mention in Landscape - 44th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Leepa- Rattner Museum, Tarpon Springs, Florida
2018
First Place in Painting - 45th Annual Temple Terrace Art and Craft Festival, Temple Terrace, Fl.
Third Place - National Small Works "Lucky 13" Exhibition and Competition, Mesquite, Nevada
First Place in Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 85th Annual International Fine Art In Miniature, Washington DC
Honorable Mention in Pastel - 35th North American Art of Miniature Show, Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.
Best of Show - Pastel Society of Central Florida Color Symphony Show, Leesburg Art Center, Leesburg, FL
Second Place in Drawing & Pastel - 43rd Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Dunedin, FL
2017
Special Merit Award and People's Choice Award - Pastel Society of Central Florida Exhibit, Mount Dora Center for the Arts, Mount Dora, FL
First Place - National Small Works "Lucky 13" Exhibition and Competition, Mesquite, Nevada
First Place in Division - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL
Award of Distinction - 33rd Annual Art Festival at Thornebrook, Gainesville, FL
First Place in Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 84th Annual International Fine Art In Miniature, Washington D.C.
Third Place in Pastel - 34th North American Art Miniature Art Show, Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.
Second Place - Pastel Society of Central Florida Expressions of the Ephemeral, Leesburg Arts Center, Leesburg, FL.
Third Place - Pastel Society of Central Florida Pastel Perceptions Show, lake Eustis Museum of Art, Lake Eustis, FL.
Honorable Mention - Quick draw event Tarpon Springs Paint Out ,Fred Howard Park, Tarpon Springs, FL.
2016
Anne Green Memorial Award - 43rd Annual Temple Terrace Community Arts festival, Temple Terrace, FL.
First Place in Division - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL.
Third Place in Pastel - 33rd North American Art Exhibition, Art Gallery of Fells PoInt, Baltimore, MD
Honorable Mention - Heartland Art Guild 12th International Miniature Show, Paola, KS.
2015
First Place in Division - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL.
Award of Distinction and People's Choice Award - Pastel Society of Central Florida Expressions In Pastel Show, Mount Dora,
First Place in Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 82nd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art In Miniature, Washington DC.
First Place in Pastel - 32nd North American Miniature Art Exhibition, Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD
Award of Achievement - Pastel Society of Central Florida Spring Show, Leesburg, FL.
2014
Second Place for Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 81st Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art In Miniature, Washington DC.
2013
First Place for Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 80th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art In Miniature, Washington
DC.
First Place in Division - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness FL.
Third Place in Pastel - 30th North American Miniature Art Exhibition, Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.
2012
Award of Excellence - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL.
Second Place for Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 79th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art In Miniature, Washington DC.
First Place in Graphics and Drawing - 29th North American Miniature Art Exhibition, Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.
Award of Merit - Art in Black and White, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL.
Pastel Society of America Merit Award - Possibilities in Pastel VI, Pastel Society of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL.
2011
First Place for Pastel - Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society 78th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art In Miniature, Washington DC.
Award of Excellence - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL.
Honorable Mention - North Tampa Arts League Membership Show, Tampa, FL.
Judge's Chioce Award - Ridge Art Association Miniature Show, Winter Haven, FL.
2010
Best In Show - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL.
First Place - Art In Black and White, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL.
2009
Best In Show - National Museum of Women In the Arts Central West Region Winter Show, Tampa, FL.
First Place - Citrus County Festival of the Arts, Inverness, FL.
Third Place - North Tampa Arts League Expressions of Love Show, Wesley Chapel, FL.