CURRENT MISSION

To work and paint my way " around the world in 80 months " if it be God's will

ABOUT ME

Welcome to my big little world! you can see most of it in my photos which is actually a portfolio of my art work that also includes 2 more photo albums. One of my many travels and another one of paintings created since I arrived in PR June 1st. I am the very embodiment of the classic traditional grassroots self taught artist. Although i have taken a couple of college level art classes years before most of my adult life has been spent learning from experience how to survive utilizing the God given gift of inspiration and how to capture it on canvas. I don't have any impressive degrees or awards. I've never retired, become bored, took on painting and called myself an artist, and I haven't been lucky enough to marry into money. Any " true " artist knows that to choose this path means asking for pain, confusion, doubt, and utter uncertainty. If ones motives are misguided he or she can easily succumb to question the very reason why one should go on living. I've been there. My motives are simple now. They are to continue to paint because of a deep obligation to the Almighty Creator to share the gift he gave me with the world. To hopefully manage to know how it feels to live in relative comfort and contentment as a result of knowing I've created a legacy that my children can be proud of. There aren't many career choices that can be as bitter sweet as that of an artist. I prefer to remind myself of the sweet part as often as I can. I've been fortunate to have sold my work to wonderful patrons from around the world. Over the years I placed myself in locations that inspired me and it so happens some of these places inspire people from all over the globe as well. Places like Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Antigua, St Martin, St Lucia, Barbados, Aruba, Venezuela, Florida Keys, Charleston SC and many other lowcountry towns and east coast beaches.Most of my subject matter is anything tropical, coastal and nautical. My seascapes and landscapes are done in acrylic, portraits in pencil and pets and animals in oil pastel. If you're interested in supporting a " Real Living Artist " then you've found one. Peace, Love and Happiness. Matty The following is an article a writer named Anthony black wrote for me to help with networking my Art (submitted 2010-03-02)

Victor Matthew Campbell. Sounds innocuous enough right? Maybe it could be the name of a character in a new detective thriller, or the lead role in a new prime time drama. Truth is sometimes more interesting than fiction.
Matty Campbell is an artist. An interesting artist. The kind you read about now and then with the interesting life story that peels back in layers like an onion skin, but thankfully it won't make you cry. Victor is something of a nomad, and something of an innocent soul. He's also guilty of much like most of us, but again like most of us, it doesn't define him. Breaking rules and paying the price is nothing to new to anyone. It's how you move on afterwards that tells your tale. Matty has lived his life, paid some prices, and now he's ready to keep moving on.
Victor has moved on in a way that will keep his tale an honorable one, and I'd like to help him in his journey. Which is why I am rambling along here trying to give you a sense of who the man is at the same time I am trying to fit him into a peg myself. As I've said, Matty is an artist and a damn fine one at that.
Before even looking up his background to get a sense of the man I would consider helping, I instead took a look at his work. I'm no connoisseur of fine art, but I'm not quite an unwashed ignorant either. I can appreciate talent, and the skill it takes to do something not only well, but unique. Matty has it in spades. His is the kind of work you look at, and might expect to find it belongs to someone famous.
Perhaps someone who attends gallery openings, hobnobbing with the intellectual elite while sharing witty stories of his past travails and adventures. But you'd be wrong. He's just a simple man, with a talent for artwork, and a heart for caring.
Matty has had his share of adventures, but I doubt he spends much time relating them to the intellectual elite. I can instead see him sitting in the sun somewhere, contemplating who he is and how he's gotten there, and how he's going to take his next step.
Maybe telling a story or two to the neighborhood kids while sketching a picture of them at play. His artwork shows an appreciation for the innocence of life, and an ability to invoke meaning with nothing more than colored pastes and imagination. His island life and travels heavily influence his artwork, and it's clear his mind is an even richer canvas than those he has painted on.
He's lived in the Caribbean and worked as a wind surfing instructor, lived on a desert beach, and had his work featured on Caribbean cruise ships and included in documentaries. Now settled in for the time being in the low country of South Carolina, Matty has finally begun the long journey of what with luck, perseverance, and the strength of his talent will finally bring some of the recognition and appreciation he has so much hoped his artwork would receive.
Active locally, he's been a presence in the Folly Beach area as a member of the Folly Beach Art Guild, and has joined the South Carolina Heritage Corridor Art Trail. He's on the right path, he's paid his dues, and he's moving on with character. He paints, he donates some of what little he has to charities, and he asks very little. He asks only that you look at his art, that you tell someone else about it, and remember it and him.
Matty brings true beauty into this world, something that seems in short supply these days, doesn't he deserve at least that much?

Check him out. Visit his page. Even better, recommend his work to someone you know. His art deserves it. http://mattydreadlocksoriginalart.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

About the Author

i'm EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
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PHILOSOPHY

I believe that everyone has a gift that has been granted by the mercy and grace of God. If you don't know what it is then spend as much time as you can to find it. Once found make it your lifes obligation to use it to glorify God and to benefit your fellow man. Trust in the lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path forever!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am new to the scene of couch surfing. However it seems the perfect way to help me realize my dream of living working and literally painting my way around the world preferably along the tropic of cancer. this has been my life long goal and now is the time. I'll be starting out in Puerto Rico June 1st and moving west from there at 1 to 2 yr intervals. I need the help of hosts to introduce me to each new place I go and make sure I meet trustworthy people who love the arts and respects the life an artist must live. Ultimately I would like to be in a position to help people just like myself someday.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm new to CS, but so far I am amazed at the response I've had surfing for couches. I joined only a few days ago and I've received more replies and offers than I ever dreamed I would. I've already confirmed a stay in Mayaguez Puerto Rico. More are pending around PR and I've indirectly received offers from Martinique and the Dominican Republic. I am absolutely thrilled!

Interests

To do the best I can to live a life that is acceptable in God's sight. The happiness and welfare of my children. To someday be a father they can be proud of. To reach a point in my life where I will be able to give back to so many who have given to me and to generously contribute to the causes of the oppressed and less fortunate populations of the human race.

• animals
• pets
• arts
• writing
• documentaries
• sketching
• beauty
• causes
• instructor
• flying
• painting
• surfing
• snorkeling
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

The Holy Bible, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Illusions, Johnathon Livingston Seagull, Clive Cussler Novels
Out of Africa, The Jungle Book, Countryman, The Graduate, Peter Pan, The Blue Lagoon, The Yearling, Where the Red Fern Grows, Bridge over the River Kwai, Forest Gump, Romancing the Stone, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Three Amigos, Where the Buffalo Roam, Easy Rider, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and any other Eastwood, James Bond and Pink Panther Flicks, Bogart. I love Island music especially ROOTS REGGAE!! I like all kinds of music calypso, soca, salsa, steeldrums, south african, vintage rock and ballads. Even some old 80's hits.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

God helped me survive Hugo while living in St Croix! I've seen appliances fly by our sliding glass door horizontally like in the wizard of oz. I fished for sword and tuna from Puerto Rico to Venezuela. I flew around the world twice before I was 10yrs old. I learned to snorkel in the South China Sea. I've seen the northern lights. I watched a crab molt! I have truly been blessed in spite of my stupid mistakes.

Teach, Learn, Share

One of the biggest lessons I've learned in my life is that almost everything that seemed at the time to be the worst thing that could ever happen to me, in time proved to be a blessing in disguise. I also know how important it is to look at things from all angles before making a decision, and if you make the wrong one, always remember the role you played in the way things turned out. Never mind the splinter in someones eye when there's a log in you're own eye. If someone has done you harm, then pray for them and let God take care of the vengeance. I've seen it work.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, France, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, United States, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines, United States, Virgin Islands, U.S.

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