This post may include affiliate links.
Bored Panda reached out to Matt to get updates on him and his artwork.
First of all, we were curious to learn whether there were any changes in Matt’s creative process. He shared: “My creative process is largely the same since the last post on Bored Panda, but I am trying to expand my horizons. I've dabbled in video work over the past year and hope to explore that more in the future. I've also begun adapting some of my digital collages back into analog hand-cut paper collages that have texture and depth.”
“It feels like coming full circle as I began in paper collage, moved to digital to help bring my giant cat creations to life, and am now turning them back into paper. I enjoy seeing my pieces (which are usually two-dimensional on a screen or piece of paper) in a more three-dimensional and tactile way.”
Since AI is here to stay, we were curious how it affects artists like Matt, who rely on digital artistry. Matt shared: “AI has definitely changed the landscape of digital art, and while I still prefer to do most of my artwork without the use of AI, I have found it very useful for some elements not directly related to collage. For instance, the Photoshop AI tools are great at expanding an image. If I have a background image that's too narrow I'm able to use their AI to change the dimensions and generate the missing pieces. It still requires plenty of effort to make it match the rest of my composition, but overall it saves me time and opens up different avenues of creation I wouldn't have gone down before.”
When looking through Matt’s webpage, you will come across a wide array of fun products with his photos. We were curious to know what collaboration was the most interesting for him.
“I license my artwork to companies for use on products in addition to creating my own products for sale. The most interesting part for me is seeing what resonates with other creatives and what they think will generate sales for their specific audience. I find all collaborations interesting, but I especially love ones from overseas companies (I have greeting cards and calendars in the UK and German markets respectively) because it allows me to connect and share my work with fans and cat lovers across the world in a way I often can't based on my location,” wrote Matt.
We also asked Matt to share what he would like for people to take away from his work.
“I hope my work helps people view the world through a different lens. I want my work to be an escape from reality and a brief respite from the world around us. I also hope that my work makes people reconsider the cats in their lives or the ones they might interact with out in the world. Cats are incredible creatures that have been connected to and inspired humans for millennia. They're beautiful, graceful, wise, and deserve to be honored as the gods we've viewed them as in the past,” answered Matt.
And lastly, he added: “I'd love to share that I have some exciting new projects and products coming just in time for the holidays, including the new 2024 edition of my bestselling Lazy Cats calendar. This year's calendar is extra special because I've created some pieces exclusively for it (including one with my own senior black cat Atticus) and designed some stickers and postcards that are only available if you buy a calendar. They make great gifts for cat lovers and are sure to put a smile on your face all through next year. Readers can pick them up in my Etsy shop.”
