We took a trip to Orange County to pay Matthew Knott a studio visit and he sent us home with some gems. The SoCal based artist shared with us his journey on how being inspired by cartoon drawings turned into painting large murals in your favorite neighborhoods. In high school Matthew started taking the craft serious & developed his style. Known for his illustrations, drawings & murals; you are able to view some of his newest work on display @ Sneakertopia or follow his social media here. Below he shared with us his inspirations and advice he has for aspiring artist. Don’t forget to like & share, enjoy!
“I’ve been an artist my whole life, I remember winning most artistic in 8th grade”
Interview
What inspired you?
So, you ask what inspires me? I could easily go into a rant, saying Picasso inspired me or Andy Warhol inspired me. Which they have of course. However, I wouldn't say that being a fan of their work and many other great artists' work, is the reason I chose art. I gain inspiration from almost anyone I meet. I'm fascinated with people. I love working with people and hearing their stories. Growing up I wasn't the smartest kid in class. I was never the best player on the team. I was however naturally talented at drawing. It felt good to be good at something and I never wanted to let that go. So, you ask what inspires me? I would say I'm inspired to use my art as a vehicle to connect with as many people as possible. The connection is my addiction. I'm inspired to connect with the world.
What advice do you have for the youth aspiring to be artists?
The advice I would have any aspiring artist, regardless of their age, would be to start. I have met so many talented artists who feel like they are not " ready." You will never be ready. I had no clue what I was doing when I started putting my work out there. I learned everything through trial and error. If you are a creator and you put your work out into the world and make at least one person happy, then you did your job. Don't get caught up in trying to blow up or make a million dollars. Learn to enjoy the process and most importantly don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way. The key is to learn from your mistakes and if you are really smart you will learn from the mistakes of others. Be consistent. Treat your passion like a job. Ask yourself everyday. Did I put in the 9-5 work ethic with my art today? Would I fire myself if I was my boss? Treat it like a job. Develop a daily routine. Go out and meet people who are doing what you want to be doing. When you eventually find those people who love what you do, make them your new best friend. Create a circle of positive influence. Youtube is your friend and can teach you almost everything. I could go on for days on what to do and what not to do. However you will learn that on your own, but only if you start.
Photography by Jamil Brown & Marrice Hill