Cash Matlock, 15, shows one of several paintings to be featured in his one-man art exhibition opening May 5 at Newton County Bank. Below, Cash works on his crafts at The Secret Garden Art Studio in Newton, where he has studied art for five years.

    At age 8, Cash Matlock submitted a drawing to his school hoping to be selected to a program for the artistically gifted. Seven years later, the Clarkdale High School student is gearing up for his first solo art exhibition.

    Presented by The Secret Garden Art Studio in Newton, the one-man exhibition will run from May 5-12 at Newton County Bank.

    Both excited and nervous, Cash said the show will represent work created during the last two years.

    “There will be 10-15 paintings in pastels, chalk and mosaic,” he said.

    Four years after being selected to Art Tag, Cash began studying under Dottie Armstrong, owner and instructor of The Secret Garden Art Studio in Newton. The young artist said he draws inspiration from other artists and describes painting as liberating.

    “When you’re painting you get to release certain emotions. It can go with any mood you’re in – you can do something really exciting, something really busy or something simple,” he said.

    Cash mostly works with acrylics, but also uses chalk for his blacklight paintings – a technique he learned from Matthew Bowman at Eternity Arts in Winston-Salem, N.C.

    “I got interested in that because I wanted my art to mean something, to reach out to people,” he said. “I enrolled in the program, which was blacklight art and you could tell a Bible story; it’s two pictures in one.”

    Armstrong said Cash’s willingness to experiment with other media and dedication to his art are among his greatest strengths.

    “Cash is an extraordinary student, he works so hard and is very committed to his work,” she said. “Since he decided two years ago to set a goal for a one-man show, he has been so focused. It’s very exciting to see someone that young have such a commitment to reaching a goal … Cash is not afraid to try different things and branches out to work in a variety of media, he doesn’t just stick with one thing.”

    Art is not the only thing Cash excels in. At Clarkdale, he is an “A” student,serves as ninth grade president of the Student Council, and is a member of the Bible Club and SADD. He runs cross-country and plays on the soccer team.

    In addition to art, Cash enjoys photography, theater and creating film skits. A member of Evangel Temple Church, he will make his stage debut this weekend in the church’s presentation of “The Life of Christ.”

    The son of George and Penny Matlock, Cash has three sisters: Kaycee Boles and Adrian Bilbo, both of Meridian, and Natale Crawford of Clinton.

    Undecided about his career choice, Cash said he would like to include his art.

    “I want it to be something creative, where I can include my art,” he said. “I don’t know if I want to be an artist, but I do plan to take my art somewhere.”