Story by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News
An artist’s canvas is his office — his workspace where he pours his energy, emotion and creativity. Nothing screams Texan vibes louder than a canvas composed of ammunition casings. That’s why Matt Tumlinson chooses to put his work on brass. His pistol cartridge canvases are a product of his small town Texas roots, and they keep him firmly grounded in the culture on which many of his illustrations are based.
Tumlinson grew up in the rural Brown County town of Early. He spent his summers fishing for crappie and running trotlines on Lake Brownwood. His schools days were spent playing football and running track between academic classes.
Tumlinson said the outdoors have always been a mainstay in his life.
“When you grow up in a small town, there’s not much to do as a kid with your free time other than play outside,” he explained. “With that being said, I didn’t really take on an interest in hunting and shooting sports until later in life.”
Art always held a constant presence throughout Tumlinson’s life, but he didn’t realize how much weight it carried during his early years.
“Growing up, I always had a natural ability to draw,” he said. “It wasn’t a skill that I initially thought I would turn into a career, but more of a party trick. In social settings people would find out that I could compose good-looking illustrations and they were impressed by it. At that time, art was just something I pursued as a hobby.”
It wasn’t until his college years when Tumlinson realized his artistic abilities could be used for more than just a pastime.
“I went off to school at Texas Tech University to pursue a degree in education,” he said. “My original goal was to become a history teacher. Both of my parents were teachers and I just felt like that’s what I supposed to do with my life.”
While studying education at Tech, Tumlinson began composing cartoons for the university’s newspaper, and he also picked up some paying artist side jobs.
“That’s when I really felt compelled to consider attempting a career as an artist,” he said.
At the end of his tenure at Texas Tech, Tumlinson moved to San Antonio to complete the student teaching requirements necessary to obtain his teaching certification.
“I also worked at a gun range during this time, and found an interest in shooting sports,” Tumlinson explained. “I also became infatuated with the outdoor opportunities in proximity to the San Antonio area. From freshwater fishing, to hunting, hiking, and kayaking, my growing love for the outdoors in Texas helped me discover who I was as an artist.”
While in San Antonio, Tumlinson decided he wanted to seriously pursue an art career. Rather than becoming a teacher, he took on odd jobs while simultaneously working as an artist. In 2014, he took a leap of faith and began pursuing an art career full time, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Matt Tumlinson creates outdoor scenes on brass cartridges and other backgrounds. Here, he paints scenery of the tundra in an old Altoids box while on a caribou hunt in Alaska. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
At 31, he still lives in San Antonio with his wife, Allison. The couple has a 2-year-old son, and another little boy on the way.
Along with being a husband, father and artist, Tumlinson enjoys all facets of the outdoors. He likes traveling, seeing new places, and the adventure that goes hand-in-hand with outdoor sports.
“I love the whole experience and culture of the outdoors in Texas, and I try to convey that in my art,” Tumlinson added.
Tumlinson’s outdoor experiences often become inspirations for his art. From learning about the history in the soil of longtime, family-owned ranches to incredible scenery, moments in the out- doors have helped mold him as an artist.
“I recharge my batteries by get- ting outside, and that’s usually where I get inspired,” he said.
Tumlinson is making a name for himself by using brass shell casings as his canvas, and is represented by several galleries, including The Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top.
