"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.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av ImagineFX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PAINT EPIC BATTLES IN TRADITIONAL INK
Warhammer illustrator THOMAS ELLIOTT shows you how to create an epic science fiction fight scene with this step-by-step guide
CONJURE MAGIC ILLUSTRATIONS
Daria Anako demonstrates her process for creating a whimsical piece of art with some spellbinding touches
First Impressions
We discover the early influences that inspired the artist
ZBrush for iPad
GAME CHANGER The desktop version of popular 3D sculpting software ZBrush has been redesigned for iPad - and it's brilliant
BenQ GW2786TC
GET AN EYEFUL Don't scrimp out on your health with a monitor that's kind on the eyes and good for creative tasks
Huion Kamvas Pro 19
TABLET WARS An attractive pen display does an excellent job of balancing price and performance as it sets out to challenge its rivals in the mobile marketplace
DRAGON OFORCEC
Legendary D&D artist Larry Elmore explains the keys to crafting timeless fantasy art.
DUNGEON MASTERS
ImagineFX marks the milestone 50th anniversary of the launch of Dungeons & Dragons with a look at its rich tradition of illustration
Erik Ly
Gamer's haven Why the artist enjoys a maximalist aesthetic more than the minimalist approach.
2D meets 3D: How the workflows are merging
Interdimensional As VFX and animation evolve and tools become more accessible, Tanya Combrinck asks whether the separation between the mediums is reducing