JOHN MATTOS

Master of the airbrush style revives Art Deco in automotive illustrations

From stamps to award-winning posters, San Francisco-based illustrator John Mattos's distinctive style combines natural drawing talent with the polished elegance of airbrush techniques and a stunning colour palette. His work celebrates traditional Art Deco poster design with a glamorous modern twist.

Born in 1953, Mattos grew up on a farm in the Central Valley east of San Francisco, where Continental cars were popular. “Like George Lucas, we lived near Modesto," he recalls. “I learned to drive early, on trucks around the farm, and was always drawing cars – mostly Ed Roth-style hot rods - and aircraft.”

Early artistic heroes for Mattos were Syd Mead and Charlie White III. While not from artistic roots, his talent was encouraged and eventually led to enrolment at the ArtCenter College of Design in LA. Airbrush art eventually became his signature style and, as a master of the medium in the 1980s, his commissions kicked off with record-sleeve artwork, magazine illustrations and event posters. “Having worked on a farm, I was at home with the hardware back then,” he says. “My most difficult challenge has been the switch from analogue to digital tools.”