About
Me… about me. It’s funny how hard it is to write about yourself.
I’ve always drawn, always. When I was 15 I decided I wanted to be a graphic designer (my Aunt Aleena was one). And so, my path was set.
So here I am, still drawing and still enjoying it. I might not draw men going to the moon and animals eating people so much these days, but the joy is still there and that is important to me!
I offer a professional, personal service, working with me is fun and easy. I make it a point to work WITH my clients not against them. So let me know if there is something I can help you out with.
MY EXPERIENCE ACHIEVEMENTS ARTIST STATEMENT FAVOURITE COMICS OTHER INTERESTS1991 – 1992
Associate Diploma In Graphic Design : Randwick TAFE
April 1993 – May 1994
Graphic Designer Elton Ward Advertising and Design : clients included: Tooheys, Sara Lee, Caltex, BBC Hardware, Castrol Oils and Western Biscuits to name a few.
May 1994 – July 1997
Designer/illustrator Scholastic Publishing. Designed and illustrated numerous teacher’s and children’s magazines and books, posters and worksheets.
July 1997 – August 1998
Senior designer/illustrator Creata : designed toys, posters, point-of-sale items, clothing, stationary for clients such as McDonald’s, Nestle, Walt Disney and Caltex/Ampol. Flown to LA for a invite only preview of Disney’s Tarzan, to get an early start on merchandise for McDonald’s.
August 1998 – April 2000
Art Director Horwitz Publications, Audio Visual Group. Oversaw the design of all the Audio Visual titles: Sound and Image, Geare, Australian Camera, ProPhoto, Australian Hi-Fi and Australian InCar.
April 2000 – November 2004
Creative director Online Media Group. Design and testing of internet browsers, online and interactive television, instant messaging, packaging and advertising material across many forms of media.
November 2004 – To Present
Freelancing Graphic Designer / Illustrator / Teacher
Design and illustrate books for Australian Publishers : Blake, Hachette, Laguna Bay and MacMillian. US publishers McGraw Hill and Trillium. Worked inhouse as a designer at Bloch International, ACP for Real Living Magazine and HarperCollins Publishers.
Illustrated 50 Sketch Cards for Marvel / Upper Deck’s X-Men Fleer Ultra 2018 trading cards.
Designed, painted / illustrated murals for Taree and Canada Bay Libraries.
Creating and teaching various drawing workshops/team building exercises for libraries, schools and businesses. I speacalise it Cartooning, Superheroes and Anime/Manga.
Some of these clients include The NSW Art Gallery, The NSW State Library, various councils and public and private schools. You can see the full list of places I’ve taught / presented at from this link http://www.matthewlin.com.au/workshops/
Currently represented by The Children’s Bookshop – Beecroft.
Created two t-shirt labels, B24FLAK and Robotcack. Recently wrote and illustrated a small comic, found $20 on the street, read many great books, learnt West African dance moves and ate some jelly.
- Finalist 1994 Mosman Art Prize
- ABPA Commendation for design of the Scholastic Teacher’s Diary 1996
- Finalist 2008 Gosford Regional Gallery Art Prize
Art for me is about play, about the experience, about discussion. The reasons why I do and what I choose to paint are vast and many, and they come and go, morph and change with each day.
I like to paint, I like to do things with my hands, I like to create rather than destroy. I like to make things that tell a story, makes the viewer feel something, what ever that feeling is.
I believe in making mistakes, sometimes great things come out of mistakes and mistakes are there for use to learn from!
- TinTin, anything TinTin, (except the movie) I just love Captain Haddock
- American Vampire, I love the art and the twist to the Vampire Universe.
- Blade of the Immortal, awesome art, great story, brilliant characters, Manji San!
- Bleach – great art, story, characters and I just love the fights!
- Naruto – well what a little dude! I like the imagination, the characters, the fights and the art is pretty good too.
- Blacksad – I pretty much like this for the art, it’s just beautiful frame after beautiful frame!
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