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Born January 14,
1949, the artist, along with his artist wife, Mary, resides in the
coffee farming town of Holualoa, located on the slopes of Hualalai
Mountain, above Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Mr. Lovein was
educated as a design engineer. He owned and operated a furniture
design & manufacturing business in California, before moving to
Hawaii in 1989. His experience spanned more than thirty years,
before he discovered his natural gift for creating art out of clay.
Matthew remembers,
"I first became excited about art at the age of twelve. I used
the medium of charcoal and pastels to capture inspirations during my
nature walks." He was also interested in photography and liked
creating metal etchings and doing wood carving.
Currently, the artist
is focused on both the Raku style of firing and colorfully glazed
high-fired works. His ceramic forms are original, yet classical,
often with an Oriental flavor. He is also working with various
metals, incorporating them as embellishments to his designs.
"After years of
being involved in art and design, I found the potter’s wheel.
Here, work is play and my hands are at home. When I discovered Raku,
I was fascinated and excited with the vast options available for
creation of new works. Working with wet clay feels fresh and comes
naturally to me. I enjoy the combination of deliberateness and
spontaneity that it allows."
"When Raku-firing,
I love the element of surprise, as each new piece emerges. It’s a
birth, a gift of creation, formed by the meeting of fire and clay. I
feel that I am fortunate to share in the celebration of an ancient
art form, that is both contemporary and timeless."
Mr. Lovein attended
formal training in sculpture and ceramics at the Southern California
Institute of Art. He has participated in and has hosted various
seminars and workshops. The artist’s work is in numerous
public, corporate and private collections, throughout the United
States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Europe, South America and
Australia. It is displayed in Hawaii State Library, Office of the
Mayor of Hawaii, West Hawaii Today Newspaper, homes and offices of
many well known celebrities and art collectors. His work has been
accepted into many State and County juried exhibitions, with Best of
Show Awards and purchases. |
