Style Imitating Art…
Welcome back for my interpretation of a wonderful piece of art by a new to me artist. Salazar, Shelbee, and I are the curators. You can think of this series as fashion meets art museum! SIA challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. Shelbee chose this amazing piece of art for us. I hope you enjoy this post, the information, and my interpretation.
How it works…
Every other Monday one of us selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. We then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, we share our outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. I chose this week’s art work for this round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why I chose it here. Please send your photo to Shelbee by Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 by 10 pm EST. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
The artist…
Matt Beyrer looks like a surfer dude. He’s got the tousled hair, the sun-squint eyes, and the easy living demeanor. Beyrer is, indeed, a surfer. Surfing got him started on his path to becoming one of the most unique artists I’ve ever seen as well as the coining of a new kind of art, “Natural Expressionism.” Born in Winter Park, Florida on November 18, 1981, Beyrer was in the eighth grade when life took a strange turn.
A “happy (?) accident”…
Beyrer was surfing off the coast of Florida when he was in eighth grade. All of a sudden, he felt a searing pain in his ankle and soon realized he’d been bitten by a seven to eight foot hammerhead shark. During his recovery, he came across the King of “Happy Accidents,” Bob Ross and his series “The Joy of Painting.” After binge watching the show, Beyrer, who apparently had already been considering some type of career in the arts became fascinated with the idea of painting with oil and even adopted the idea of painting wet on wet. This just means applying more paint before the prior layers have dried. And, if you’ve watched the show, you can easily understand the feeling of “I can do that.” Turns out Beyrer could says the person who couldn’t!
“You can spot the Matt Beyrer paintings in a gallery or at an art fair from a thousand feet away. They are the astounding works that turn a modest plank of wood into a fantastic world of color and imagination. The beating heart of a Beyrer painting is the rhythm of the wood grain, which Beyrer deftly incorporates into every dramatic landscape, his signature use of nature’s patterns to convey the energy of the universe around us (source).”
Early years…
Beyrer earned his BFA in Illustration from Ringling College and Design in 2006. The degree enabled his to add realism to his landscapes, giving them a perspective only seasoned painters achieved. He then began trying to find his place in the art world, to discover what his niche might be, and to search “for a voice that felt entirely his own.” Uncertainty, mixed with failure, experimenting, and building and rebuilding shaped his perspective as well as the heart behind the work. I’m guessing, by reading between the lines, these were the “starving artist” years for Beyrer.
Birth of National Expressionism…
And, then something magical occurred following Hurricane Matthew’s appearance in 2015. At the time, Beyrer was handcrafting custom wood frames for his paintings. He would use reclaimed oak bark from trees that had been felled by the store. He was staining one particular frame when he ran out of stain. Instead of taking the easy way out and buying more stain, Beyrer decided to try to improvise a mixture. He mixed oil paint, mineral spirits, and whatever materials he had at hand. Then and there, a new art form was born. As Beyrer applied the improvised mixture, he notice the grain “suddenly came alive, revealing movement, atmosphere, and natural flow within the surface itself.” Now, the wood was no longer just the background, the empty canvas. It became an integral part of the landscape.
A little more…
As he considered the bold grain patterns and organic movement of red oat, Beyrer developed his signature approach…let the natural structure of the wood guide the “composition, energy, and rhythm of each peace. Horizons emerged naturally. Water carried motion. Skies seemed to breathe directly from the grain.” While many artists claim to have created an original technique, it would appear Beyrer actually did! He combined the patterns of natural wood grain to realism and created a style that draws “on traditional techniques of perspective and draftsmanship and adds his own particular devices.” His body of work is (pardon the pun) “rooted equally in nature, emotion, and transformation.
Still more..
“Since joining Park West Gallery in 2017, Beyrer has achieved remarkable success. He is celebrated as the first artist in the gallery’s history to sell out 12 consecutive VIP auctions. Collectors worldwide have recognized the value and uniqueness of Matt Beyrer art, drawn to his imaginative landscapes and signature wood grain technique. In a relatively short period, Beyrer has become a sought-after artist, with pieces that consistently attract high interest and appreciation in value. This exceptional demand reflects not only his artistic talent but also the distinctive aesthetic that sets his work apart.”
Finally…
So, what is Natural Expressionism? Beyrer considers it the blending of realism, abstraction, and imagination into this style of art. Much like the Impressionists, Beyrer uses shifting light, coastal environments, and the “unpredictable beauty found in everyday life.” He considers each painting not only a landscape, but also a process of discovery as he uncovers the beauty of the wood’s grain and uses it to shape the art he is creating.
In his paintings, Beyrer draws from his personal experiences and love of nature. He often explores themes inspired by the natural elements—the warmth of sunlight, the tumult of a thunderstorm, and the serenity of a quiet forest. By incorporating these natural motifs, Beyrer invites viewers into fantastical realms that feel both dreamlike and real. His fascination with light, color, and composition stems from his admiration of the Old Masters like Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, and Rembrandt, as well as Hudson River School artists such as Thomas Cole and Albert Bierstadt. These influences resonate in his work, blending the time-honored techniques of the past with modern inspiration from concept artists like Brandon Liao and illustrators like Drew Struzan.
Let’s hear from the artist…
The artwork…
Triumphant Salute is a caldograph which is a piece of art using dye-sublimation. I’ve added a video below to explain it even further. Dye-sublimation is a printing design which melds an object with the art upon it. Our art measures 15 x 20 in (38.1 x 50.8 cm) and is, of course, wood with oil paint/dyes applied to it. Triumphant Salute was completed in 2021.
“Using simple planks of wood, Beyrer has emerged as one of the most creative and resourceful artists working today. The depths of color and the texture of his work can evoke intense emotional responses in collectors. This stunning painting called “Triumphant Salute” typifies the power in the natural elements Matt Beyrer works with. We see the ripples of a warm summer evening sky, much like the ripple in the flag as it blows in the wind. And we see a cross, a symbol of remembrance and devotion, and a soldier solemnly paying their respects to a fallen friend.”
Sources…
My interpretation…
Cat, oh Cat! You were definitely right in your prediction! As soon as I saw this inspiration piece, I knew I had the perfect dress for the challenge. This is the Crepe Sari Dahlia Duster Dress from Kantha Bae. As always, I cannot link to my exact dress as each piece is unique! Everything about it worked perfectly for the challenge. The colors are almost perfect in their vibrancy. There are even black lines and squiggles to represent the silhouette of the soldier. I have worn this dress for another SIA challenge, so I suppose that was in the back of Cat’s mind. I’m so glad I didn’t bet her any money! I added a black obi belt just as I did in the last post. Interestingly, the two inspiration artworks are nothing alike!
The Lewk!
I decided to wear my L’Artiste Fantastic Booties as an homage to the soldier portrayed in our art. I do have plain ones, but I thought the colors added to those already appearing in my outfit. Then, I just added several wooden pieces of jewelry, collected over the years. And, I do mean years. That necklace…I think I bought it on clearance when Target was still Ayr-Way! The earrings are also very old and may have come from Ayr-Way rather than Target. I used different colors of wooden bead bracelets to add colors that aren’t necessarily in the art but are still colorful and wood!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
This was such a fun piece of art to research, mainly because I learned of a new technique of creating. But, could I do it? I seriously doubt it. I loved the videos. There are more if you want to google it. I’m so glad Shelbee selected this colorful, meaningful, and striking piece of art. So, can we talk? Have you ever had a moment in your life that was a pivotal time and led you down a different path? What do you think of this new type of art, Natural Expressionism? What would you have chosen to wear? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Don’t forget…
If you want to be included in the Style Imitating Art round up, send Shelbee your photo by 10:00 pm EST, Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026. Photos of everyone participating will appear on her blog on Wednesday, June 3rd! If you’re interested in joining us, consider all of your options…the colors, the textures, the feelings they evoke! Come on, give it a try! I think you’ll love it!
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World . I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
What can I say …. too bad we didn’t bet on it! 😀
That’s exactly the one I had in mind, the colors are just too perfect, it couldn’t have been anything else.
Lovely and colouirful, Marsha.