"It can be helpful to emulate an artist you like, but don't be so dogmatic about it that you never develop your own style (also, credit them)"
Depicting everything from fantastical scenes, afro-futurism and down-to-Earth moments, the art of Paul Davey - also known as Mattahan - has won him a legion of fans and attention from a variety of industries. We caught up with him to hear how he makes work so good it stops social media scrollers in their tracks.
Tell us a little about your background as an artist. How did you get started, and what has your career been like so far?
It's a story you've definitely heard before; I've been drawing for as long as I can remember so it becoming my profession was inevitable. I made a tiny name for myself releasing free icons and wallpapers in the early 2000s. Job offers of various sizes have been appearing in my inbox ever since. My career has been all right. I've been able to live off it without ever having to get a day job. But there's definitely room for it to grow.
Which artists have inspired you most and why?
I consciously avoid being inspired by other artists because I like to tell myself that my work is 100 per cent original with zero outside influence. That said, there are some artists I like.
These include Akwaeke Emezi, who radiates brilliance all the time. It really aggravates my imposter syndrome. Yagazie Emezi is incredibly brave and cool, and then there's Lois van Baarle; I'm jealous of her success, but she deserves it. I've also adored James Jean's style since his work on Fable and it's been amazing watching it evolve.
この記事は ImagineFX の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は ImagineFX の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
A Tribute To Akira Toriyama
Remembering a legend Artists from across the world pay homage to the influential manga artist and genius creator of Dragon Ball
First Impressions
The illustrator reveals his journey through the world of art
DEVELOP 3D SKILLS FOR CONCEPT ART
Gaëlle Seguillon creates a breathtaking fantasy environment by combining a selection of techniques within her workflow
DRAW FUTURISTIC VEHICLE DESIGNS
John A. Frye uses just a single brush to transform his messy thumbnail into a bold and colourful hard-surface creation
PART 5: SIMPLIFY THE VALUE SCALE
Charlie Pickard introduces his top advice for achieving strong values in your artwork to create clear and powerful imagery
Charles Ratteray
Page-turner Library meets laboratory in the artist's studio, packed with inspiration and a mix of media
How to tell a story in an image
Narrative masters Tanya Combrinck talks to four artists about using visual elements to imbue their work with personal and universal human stories
ILLUSTRATE A MAGICAL CHARACTER
For this illustration, I was asked to create a fun, bright image with the theme of making artwork magical by the developers behind the digital drawing app Clip Studio Paint.
First Impressions - Glenn Arthur
Influences from Disneyland shape the artist’s work
THE ART OF BRIAN SUM
Dominic Carter talks to the mech master about honing his cyberpunk visions, character designs, and his new artbook