Matt Knopf

Location

• Huntsville, AL.

Occupation

• Artist

• Engineer

• Satellite Operator

Education

• Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University

• Bachelors of Fine Art, Ringling College of Art and Design

Hobbies

• Playing with my daughters

• Building anything

• 3D printing

• Weightlifting

• Stock market trading and analysis

Brief History

• Born in 1986, I completed my first oil paintings before the age of 10 and have been deeply passionate about the art ever since. In particular, I love the challenge of capturing the character, detail, color and light of the subject. In addition to painting, I am an Engineer working on National Defense systems and a Space Operations Officer in the Air Force. I have a wonderful family with 4 daughters who keep me busy.

 “The primary goal of my art is to reflect the traditional nature of oil painting. When painting, I focus on technique, application, and color accuracy.  I have a love for the craft of painting, with a passion for hyperrealism, which I find this to be one of the most challenging styles of art.  My objective with each piece is to produce a high quality oil painting that reflects not only the subject itself, but the character within it. When completing a piece, I use a series of layers, which I smooth repeatedly to create a surface that is both deep and clean. I want the surface of my canvas to appear multidimensional, with controlled areas of gloss and ranges that are in and out of focus. I control the oil within the paint being used and understand its effect on the canvas, as well as on the previous layers of oil.  Fine art, to me, is the honing of a craft and a deep understanding of a medium; this is what I strive for with each piece.”

– Matt Knopf

Why am I painting again?

•If I could anything with my time, other than playing with my daughters, I would paint. Over the past decade I have struggled to find the time to paint, but through negotiations with my wife, we have decided to allow me the time… and I couldn’t be more happy about it. Painting is a challenge, and I do not think I am particularly good at it, but I do have ability to identify my mistakes then make iterative corrections. Eventually this iterative process of correcting mistakes, or making “less bad” mistakes lands the work where you see it on this site.

What is my story?

Early Life:

•I wanted to be an animator and loved drawing cartoons as a kid. Every opportunity they had, my Grandmother and Mom would buy me art supplies and feed my habit. I began drawing pictures of athletes and musicians I admired. I would send the subjects (David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neil, ect…) the drawings and would receive letters of appreciation from them. Getting responses hooked me. In high school I did a picture of Pope John Paul II which earned notoriety and eventually made its way to the Vatican where the Pope saw it. I received a letter from a Cardinal on behalf of the Pope who requested a portrait of a Saint. Although I have not seen it, and they are probably in the back of a closet, apparently I have 2 paintings in the Vatican. Art, sports and music is all I wanted to do.

Mid Life:

•Thanks to supportive parents I was able to spend 4 yrs studying art and painting 10 hrs a day in college. I painted during the day and was a DJ at night. I lived a rather cavalier life. The subject of my colligate work had dark and raw undertones. I became very interested in world/humanitarian issues. I earned a Bachelors of Fine Art in 2008. I decided I put my ambitions to paint and make music aside, and join the Air Force. This was a defining time and the transition to adulthood.

Current Life:

•I often say the Air Force is the best company I have worked for. I have been stationed in Texas, South Carolina, Kuwait, Jordan, California ect… and met some of the best people I know. I worked during the day and painted every night. My technical ability and subject matter evolved. I would paint pictures my buddies took while on deployments which led to the series of Middle Eastern men you see in the gallery. I went back to school and earned a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering and have been working as an Engineer in a variety of capacities, generally within National Defense and Space. I continue my Military career as a Space Operations Officer and mission commander for a constellation of satellites which provide missile warning and missile defense.

Email me at matthewdknopf@gmail.com with comments or interest in representation and purchases.

Thank you for viewing my work.

• Matt