matt johns

Haló there!! I am Matt Johns (he/him), a freelance illustrator n’ designer from Scotland. My work is a dance between analog means of making and digital manipulation, I most commonly communicate through shape language, composition and meta-narratives to help craft playful characters that remind you of how eating warm soup feels.

[mattydraws]

Matts Free Messy Brush Pack + Texture Assets for Procreate is now available for download over on my Gumroad storefront: here

This Messy Brush Pack is listed as free/pay what you want - it's important to me that creative tools and resources are financially accessible to those who want to explore and play but can't feasibly do so - if you want to test the brushes out, you can always pay later (but it is not mandatory) if you do want to support my practice!!

What's Included?

x4 of Matts Messy Brushes:

Messy Inky Outline – a light and loose ink brush that can be used for linework, it emulates the build up of ink depending on the pen tilt angle.

Messy Ink Liner – designed to emulate a dry ink texture with grit, feels like your trusty ink pen is almost out of ink.

Messy Inker – great for blocking out shapes and forms, is slightly translucent - can be used as a quick & dirty fill brush.

Messy Pencil – emulates a soft pencil quality that builds up, you use the Inky Outline brush as an eraser to tidy up the rough edges after rendering to your hearts content.

x12 Texture Asset Files:

Texture Assets – a selection of 12 custom texture files, they are all in Grayscale, use them as clipping masks on fill layers or linework, play with the layer filter types and opacity (they're great fun the adjust, my favorite preference is the soft light layer filter at 60% opacity!!) you can erase parts of them using the brushes in this Messy Brush pack to better curate where you want texture to be in your piece, generally are very intuitive to work with!!

I am currently hard at work developing + revising what will be a larger brush pack for Procreate - currently at 60+ brushes in counting - custom brush stamp shapes, grains etc. This future brush pack will be appropriately priced and be released alongside a condensed version of the pack, so customers who are low-income can still partake and play with some fun brushes. Thank you for your support and enjoy these free tools + assets!! If you would like to stay updated with my work, you can find me over on: instagram | bluesky | twitter | patreon | linkedin *ੈ✩‧₊˚

[mattydraws]

Matts Free Messy Brush Pack + Texture Assets for Procreate is now available for download over on my Gumroad storefront: here

This Messy Brush Pack is listed as free/pay what you want - it's important to me that creative tools and resources are financially accessible to those who want to explore and play but can't feasibly do so - if you want to test the brushes out, you can always pay later (but it is not mandatory) if you do want to support my practice!!

What's Included?

x4 of Matts Messy Brushes:

Messy Inky Outline – a light and loose ink brush that can be used for linework, it emulates the build up of ink depending on the pen tilt angle.

Messy Ink Liner – designed to emulate a dry ink texture with grit, feels like your trusty ink pen is almost out of ink.

Messy Inker – great for blocking out shapes and forms, is slightly translucent - can be used as a quick & dirty fill brush.

Messy Pencil – emulates a soft pencil quality that builds up, you use the Inky Outline brush as an eraser to tidy up the rough edges after rendering to your hearts content.

x12 Texture Asset Files:

Texture Assets – a selection of 12 custom texture files, they are all in Grayscale, use them as clipping masks on fill layers or linework, play with the layer filter types and opacity (they're great fun the adjust, my favorite preference is the soft light layer filter at 60% opacity!!) you can erase parts of them using the brushes in this Messy Brush pack to better curate where you want texture to be in your piece, generally are very intuitive to work with!!

I am currently hard at work developing + revising what will be a larger brush pack for Procreate - currently at 60+ brushes in counting - custom brush stamp shapes, grains etc. This future brush pack will be appropriately priced and be released alongside a condensed version of the pack, so customers who are low-income can still partake and play with some fun brushes. Thank you for your support and enjoy these free tools + assets!! If you would like to stay updated with my work, you can find me over on: instagram | bluesky | twitter | patreon | linkedin *ੈ✩‧₊˚

[mattydraws]

concepting a story from my head about a mushroom park ranger that loves eggs n' playing their lil stick flute for this years Adventure April prompt list

[mattydraws]

ghost soup

[mattydraws]

crabby ✸

Instagram | twitter | ko-fi

[mattydraws]

fishies

[mattydraws]

Haven't used Tumblr in so many years fuck, but have still been making art heh heh - here is a series from a few years back, exploring the use of limited colors, selected from photos - they're called palette pals and was a fun way to limit and switch up color swatches for character designs

[mattydraws]

Haló There Adventurer!! ミ⋆

I would like to announce that I will be going on a little art adventure this April n' you are more than welcome to join!! We'll explore a new prompt list n' fresh lil story line!! Journey through space and time, venture into the void - where we'll befriend stars n' save an undiscovered cosmic kingdom!! ミ⋆ Participate as much or as little as you want, goal is to just have fun and maybe gain some new skills n' meet like minded folk!! I will begin posting prompt pieces on the 31st of March n' finish up around the 30th of April - I'm hoping to gain some soft art skills + use this time to experiment and learn new skills - it's important to just try and have fun with this art challenge. There are no strict guidelines regarding format of prompt pieces, use any format you want - analog or digital, use pencil or paint - there is no wrong way to approach this art challenge. I've created a playlist over on spotify for some ambient background beats while I draw these daily prompts - if you want to check that out, it can be found here. If you're community-oriented, you are more than welcome to join the official discord server for this prompt!! Chat, communicate with other participants, share some work, get feedback, make friends with other artists etc. I hope to see you there!! Remember to tag your prompt pieces accordingly so I can connect and support your work through the month of April - please use the prompt tag: #AdventureApril if you're participating in this years prompt. Find me elsewhere: https://www.instagram.com/_mattjohns/ https://twitter.com/mattydraws Let me know what you think of this years prompt list n' hopefully hear from you soon adventurer!! If you have any questions feel free to send me a message and I'll get back to you ASAP!! Take care, ミ⋆ Matt

[mattydraws]

Starting off my day 1 & 2 of #MisadventureMay with a sketchbook page of my protagonist and companion - Lutum & Noctis!! Lutum is made of mantle shards and Noctis is a rare being born when a falling star collides with earth.

[mattydraws]

Never stop reblogging your MM Prompt list, I get so happy everytime I see it on my dash :D Also I love your art and you're a wonderful personokbye.

You are too kind!! thank you so much, stranger!!

[mattydraws]

Is adventure april a thing this year?

Yes!! It’s now called #MisadventureMay - you can read the new prompt list here.

[mattydraws]

🤟 Are you n' yer pals ready for your next adventure art prompt?  🤟

Matt’s Art Prompt 2 - #MisadventureMay

I posted this two weeks in advance over on Twitter, only now posting it on Tumblr for anyone who wants to plan ahead for this adventure art prompt - participate with a friend, have yersel a cute wee adventure!! Keep everyone updated by posting on social media using the correct prompt tag:

#MisadventureMay ---------------------------------

Prompt Post:

https://twitter.com/mattydraws/status/1118288297099505679 --------------------------------- 

Introduction

Hey! I'm Matt. Last year I started this fantasy/adventure art prompt, I only expected a few people to partake (mainly mutual art pals) but was surprised to see hundreds of people taking part, artists of varying styles and ages, interpreting this prompt in their own way with different characters and environments - I was honored to see so many people enjoying their fictional travels. So, It's been a year since #AdventureApril was posted - now comes #MisadventureMay another loose narrative adventure art prompt, it's up to you to create your characters, their backstories along with the world they inhabit!! For me, This adventure is set 400+ years in the future, my character is traveling out of their home kingdom for the first time, they come across new fauna n' flora (some fauna drop loot n' flora have magical properties you can store n' use later) you meet new characters and travel to new kingdoms!! - Of course, my adventure wouldn't be as fun without a friend to share my travels with so like last year I have a companion to adventure with!! Does your adventure take place in the same universe as the last prompt? or Is it an entirely new universe? All these aspects are for you and you only to figure out!! Share with your art friends n’ have an adventure!! Updates & Questions Last year I set up a Discord Channel for the prompt so feel free to join and chat with other participants!! If you have any questions, shoot me a message on here, Twitter or over on the Discord, I’m happy to lend a hand if anyone needs help!! :- ) ---------------------------------

Prompt Guidelines

By the end of #MisadventureMay you should have a collection of 31 drawings that reflects each prompt theme by day. You should start posting your work on the 30th of April through to the 31th of May. The goal of this prompt is to create an imaginary world, from its environment to its characters. You can use any medium, any style, there is no wrong way to participate!! You can present your prompt pieces, however - quickly sketches, full-page illustrations, pin designs, sticker designs, etc. Do whatever you like, this is a challenge that should hopefully allow you to explore your creative process, have fun with it!! Don’t panic if you fall behind or start late. There’s no rush, post when you can!! post when you can. You got this pal, let's make some cool shit!! Keep everyone updated by posting on social media using the correct prompt tag: #MisadventureMay ---------------------------------

Safe Travels,

See you all soon!!

Matt

:- )

[mattydraws]

So a few months back I’d created a piece for a curated zine (@poketravelzine) where each artist would explore and create their interpretation of one of the routes from any of the regions that exist within the pokemon world, including pokemon and trainers alike if they wanted. I chose to explore one of my favourite routes in Hoenn, which was: Route 128 (underwater). On this route there was a submarine, as a kid playing the game I was like ‘shit this is so cool’ I wanted to be in that submarine, but I was quite happy to be chilling, diving with my Wailmer, aha. Although in the game this route wasn’t vibrant or overgrown with coral n’ kelp everywhere, I would always imagine what it would look like in real life, the submarine would be reclaimed by nature, coral and seaweed would start to grow over and across the metal exterior - as would rust. Magikarp would be making funny faces at the shoal of Barboach n’ Luvdisc, a Wailord would be grinning in the background too. Anyway, I can’t thank these art pals enough for allowing me to be a part of this awesome curation!! It brought back so much nostalgia n’ I honestly had a blast I never make nor post fanart so this was so super one-off for me. Curators and organisers: @allisoncarl @jean-wei @hannayoonicha  @meruz Thanks for reading n’ safe travels! Matt. :~)

[mattydraws]

Day 7 of #AdventureApril I lost my stylus again today and I feel terrible - so does this weary traveller, so at least I’m not alone

[mattydraws]

Day 6 of #AdventureApril a sketchy weapon salesperson approaches my protag in the middle of the forest, asking if they're interested in buying a sword

[mattydraws]

Day 5 of #AdventureApril after defeating the aggressive shroom pal, my protag notices a strange howl and rustling coming from a nearby clearing in the forest - It was none other than a forest doggo - a log dog to be precise

[mattydraws]

Day 4 of #AdventureApril my wizard protag n' cauldron companion travel through the forest - they make a ruckus and wake up a snoozing shroom pal by accident - there is no other choice but to battle it ~ Deleted this post by accident instead of reblogging, ughh