Matthew Vincent Conrad is a self-taught representational oil painter who studied Graphic Design briefly at the Art Institute of Seattle and began painting primarily in acrylics in the mid-2000s before moving on to produce oil paintings from 2020 onward. Conrad believes what many artists do, that painting is a science necessary to acquire in order to make of it an art. Common themes among his work include still life, portraits, the human figure, and natural scenery.
It is beauty from life that I try to convey, and I may find it in a certain form, in a certain light, in a certain color, and I attempt to translate that beauty with each brush stroke. I would describe my style as having elements of impressionism, such as loose brushstrokes and a vibrant palette, combined with elements of realism, as I like to capture an individual's true appearance and personality in my portraiture.