Creativity Over Coffee: Matthew Mead

Today, I’m delighted to be joined for Creativity Over Coffee with my good friend and the amazingly creative, Matthew Mead!  You may remember that Matthew came to my house last January click here for his magazine Upcycled Style click here.  We also just did The Vintage Bazaar together.  Matthew has the best and most infectious laugh.  He also has this ability to find beauty and inspiration everywhere from his work as the associated press food photographer and writer, photographer and stylist of his own books and magazines click here for books and publications.  More than that he’s a wonderful story teller (as you’ll see) and wonderful friend.  Please help me welcome Matthew to this series!

Here’s our conversation:

Thank you so much for deciding to join me for coffee and chat about your creative process. When I had just graduated from film school in London and couldn’t find work, I found inspiration through the many biographies I read from the library. I used to go there each week and take out more. So I thought this series could inspire my readers just like the biographies I read in London inspired me.

Matthew: I’m not really a coffee drinker. But I’m having a decaf cappuccino with extra foam which I prefer with a piece of chocolate cake

Many people believe they are not creative. I hear this all the time. It is my hope with these conversations with my talented friends that I hope to inspire my readers to believe that they truly are creativity. That creativity is just sitting inside of them waiting to bubble over.

Matthew: My thought on that is the creativity exists in everyone. It’s a matter of growth, self discovery, getting in touch with it. It’s like an adventure and you must be open to taking it.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your creative journey?
Matthew: I’m the youngest of three, had very creative grandparents and lots of time to develop my imagination as a child. As far back as I can remember, my grandmother would help me make projects. She had gardens and we (all three of us) learned how to do things, engage the natural world, make something out of nothing.

When do you feel most creative or happy?
Matthew: I’m inspired by everything. I am most happy when my mind has the freedom to really wander and dream about possibilities. I love being in my studio, my warehouse, or at the flea market finding items and objects that inspire projects or photographs.

Is there one project that you really love and you’re really proud of that you’ve done? It can be a work of art. A room makeover. A photograph. A book. An article. Really anything you want to share.
Matthew: I’ve been a stylist for nearly 25 years and I’ve mostly enjoyed every moment. I see pictures in my head (and I didn’t really realize til I was an adult that not everyone has that ability). This visualization really allows me to create full visions and ideas prior to a photography session and that is a really big part of my process. Eight years ago I had to learn the photography part of my work or cease working. I’m most proud of having found that talent. Without being able to achieve the photography part many of my projects would not have come into existence. Many of the books and magazines I’ve created over the last eight years really represent who I am and what I do and are truly FAVORITES of mine. Many are tied to memories like photographing an amazing rose garden in Hull, Massachusetts or a cherry grove in Hollis, New Hampshire. Some of these shoots are such “perfect” memories and when I feel that inside they make for the most amazing and memorable stories.

Who or what inspires you?
Matthew: Almost everything! I think there is “beauty” in all things and it is my “job” to discover it. I wake up with “real joy” in my heart that there is a new day to unfold and beauty to be found… it just really leads my life.

Do you ever get in a funk? If so, how do you get out of it?

Matthew: Oh I do… I’m sensitive and being highly creative has lots of highs and lows. You lead with your heart, you put every part of you out there. But success comes with growth and you have to be as open to the critique as you are the adulation. Down times are like dark clouds and they too will come to pass. My most down time comes when work is slow or mired by too much opinion. I have found reaching out t0 friends (something I’ve done over the last few years) really, really helpful. I also try to put perspective on life and distract myself with a new project (even if it is just for me).

What is your favorite color? Is there any color you don’t LOVE?
Matthew: I love color and probably the most engaging of all of them is green and all of its hues. I am such a fan of the natural world around me and all the shades of green really speak to my design sensibility. The great thing about my job as that I can engage all kinds of colors so I am never limited to just one.

How has social media impacted your work and the art you create?
Matthew: Well, it is bittersweet in many ways. I love being connected to my readers… I love the community it has created and I love interacting with like minded people. But… I am truly part of the print world, I love sharing through the printed page and social media has done a lot to steal that experience. I still prefer printed material and I truly shy away from things like Pinterest because I feel it has eroded the print experience and my livelihood.

Can you share a humorous story from one of your shoots or styling sessions?
Matthew: Lots of fun and funny times over the years for sure. Fans always want to come and work with me or assist me. Much of the time is filled with moving, hauling, setting up… so it truly is more like “moving day” all the time as opposed to a “foo foo” photo shoot. Many times I find myself behind the wheel of a rented box truck to move props and items to locations. Who in their right mind would rent something like that to me??? I am clearly not the “heavy equipment” type. Needless to say I’ve had a litany of issues with these types of rented vehicles (like getting them stuck, taking down tree limbs, and almost taking out a computer train line in a neighboring state)

HERE IS THE STORY:

Why I, Matthew Mead, am on the “no-rent” list for Budget, Ryder, Uhaul, and Penske trucks:

Most things in life should require a special license. In my state, and I think most in the US, you must have a proper license to drive a motorcycle. It just makes sense. But there is always an exception to such rules; and I guess private citizens moving large objects in a 30 ft long box truck is one of them. But I am here to assert that it shouldn’t be.

Comedy and outrageous hi-jinks seem to play out in my life, whether I go looking for them or not. On many days, these elements seem to intersect with things like renting a box truck to move props and supplies from my studio to a location. Often times, it is only minutes from the studio (and that is scary enough) but on this one occasion it meant a trip to a metropolitan location nearly 5 hours from what I consider “safety”. Suffice it to say, by the end of day two I narrowly averted an incident that involved a 26 foot truck, a “too small bridge” and a commuter rail into one of the major US cities on the eastern seaboard.

Now I always imagined that an international incident could bring me much needed press for my work, but I know in this case that real damage could have cost me a great deal of money in damages and fines and perhaps put me on a list of terror suspects. My parents have an inkling of this story because I often talk briefly about it when I open my lectures. But they don’t know the whole story – and they think I am joking – so it really is on the D.L. as far as they are concerned…

I normally drive a Chevy pick-up trick (which my wife says I don’t do well) but when big photo shoots with locations come along, I am a candidate to rent a vehicle which I would consider “heavy equipment” – without any special kind of proof that I can handle a big rig on the road. Now, I have had plenty of experience with mishaps involving these vehicles in the past: I felled a small tree upon arriving at one location; got the truck stuck on a narrow, sandy slope along the side of a homeowners barn; left the lights on in a blizzard in a parking lot in winter, where the truck was plowed in and the battery died. While you would think that would be enough for a lifetime… but WRONG!

There are three things to note when renting such vehicles: buy all the insurance, though there is not insurance to cover the roof of the box truck. Second, the height of the truck is both clearly written on the inside of the cab and posted on the exterior approach to a bridge. Make darn sure there is clearance for passing under! Third… listen to your instincts; and if you think you won’t fit under the bridge, then back up and turn around and find another way.

On this one particular morning in New York state, my assistant and I were in the rental truck and Jenny followed behind in our pick-up, all while keeping in touch via a shaky cell phone connection. We were lost for sure, but we were also nervous and anxious about staying on schedule and not being late for the shoot. Jenny kept saying to my assistant, “stay on the line” which we both interpreted as perhaps I was drifting too far to the right and should be using the middle line in the road as a guide to keep on the straight and narrow. What she really meant was, keep the cell phone line open. It got worse from there. Approaching the tiny bridge opening. I asked, “Does Jenny think we will make it?” to which my assistant said, ” I guess so”. All the while Jenny says she was screaming,” You are not going to make it, stop.” I continued under the bridge, the roof of the truck scraping against the top of the bridge and sounding like the TITANIC splitting in half. At one point we were clearly stuck (with onlookers all agasp at the sight). I said to my assistant, “we are making it through” and I pressed on the gas and pushed that truck through the opening with all the screeching, scratching and scraping you could possibly imagine… onlookers now truly in utter disbelief. Jenny said the back of the truck sprung six feet into the air upon exiting the underpass and you could hear an audible boing, boing, boing – like the bouncing noise Tigger makes in Winnie the Pooh – emanating from the truck’s shock absorbers.

I was glad to have made it through the bridge opening but wasn’t prepared for how angry Jenny was about my miscalculation. I have never, ever seen her so angry with me! I am still apologizing for this horrible mistake and vow never to put myself in that position again. Obviously, the angels were watching over me; because the bridge was still standing and the roof of the truck was unscathed (and it honestly sounded like the roof was being pried off like the rolling top of a sardine can). The funny thing is that we didn’t need to use that street after all… we never even needed to “go down that road”.

But I guess that is now “water under the bridge”.

The moral here: like flea market items, we just aren’t all perfect…not even close.

I can arrange flowers because of some genetic instinctive gene, but am not good at operating heavy equipment. I learned a lesson which I might be still waiting to learn if I hadn’t been behind the wheel of a big rig. I have been leery of renting trucks ever since, and have really tried to avoid driving them all together. But what I know for sure, is that truck sizes and bridge heights are posted; and I can always check the postings and make educated decisions as to how to proceed. In essence, it’s just like our new magazine – giving you all the tips and tricks to make the best and most educated purchases at your next flea, auction or occasional sale.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested becoming more creative or would like to go into publishing or styling?
Matthew: You must do it… and you must practice and try and integrate it into your life so that at some point you are doing it full time. Any worthwhile endeavor takes lots of time. The best trait is to be patient, work hard, engage and be open to the journey. Nothing is ever super easy and we wouldn’t want it if it was. Be patient, explore, reach out to others. Ask questions, give yourself time and space. Keep reinventing and paying attention to growth as that always takes you to the next level. Don’t be afraid to try a different approach or “change up” what you are doing. Its cumulative, fluid, sign up for the “ride” and “stomach” the drops… let it be exhilarating and challenge your soul to soar. I think to fully engage you must “take flight”.

Growing up I was a huge follower of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO. At the end of the program, they would ask the interviewee these questions:

1. What is your favorite word? Prestidigitation just a fun word
2. What is your least favorite word? NO
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? BEAUTY… IN ALL ITS FORMS
4. What turns you off? WHEN SOMEONE ISN’T PRESENT OR LISTENING TO ME
5. What is your favorite curse word? SHIT.. cause it is so interchangeable and relates to most incidents gone wrong
6. What sound or noise do you love? THE SOUND OF MY WIFE AND DOG JUST BREATHING
7. What sound or noise do you hate? CRYING
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? ABSTRACT ARTIST
9. What profession would you not like to do? MORTICIAN
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? WELCOME, YOUR PETS HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE YOU

Thank you so much, Matthew, for sitting down with me.  I so enjoyed chatting and hearing your perspective. To keep up with Matthew follow him here:

Matthew’s Blog * Matthew’s Facebook * Matthew Instagram

Be sure to join us again soon for Creativity over Coffee!