Rodney Matthews
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Rodney Matthews rose to international fame in the early 1970s when Big O Posters began distributing his artwork globally, selling millions of copies.
Twelve designs inspired by the Elric of Melniboné saga caught the attention of author Michael Moorcock, leading to Rodney securing a series of paperback cover commissions from Moorcock’s publisher.
Rodney’s illustrations have graced over 150 album covers, marking his enduring association with the rock ‘n’ roll world where, as a skilled drummer, he first created artwork for Thin Lizzy’s debut EP cover in 1971. His portfolio extends to collaborations with bands like Asia, Eloy, Magnum, Nazareth, and Rick Wakeman.
In addition to album covers, Rodney’s artistic journey has encompassed conceptual designs for video games such as Sony Psygnosis' Shadow Master and Midway’s Haven – Call of the King.
His creativity also found expression in animation, notably with the children’s TV series Lavender Castle for Gerry Anderson and the award-winning adaptation of his own children’s book, Yendor – The Journey of Junior Adventurer.
Preferred Medium:
In the distant past, during my college years and throughout my eight-year tenure as an illustrator at an advertising agency, I learned to work in many styles and relished the challenges presented by oils, acrylic gouache on canvas, designer's gouache in a dry brush style, and pen line.
Starting around 1970, pigmented inks on art board became my most frequently used medium, applied using sable hand-brushes and an airbrush with a compressor.
When adopting my "children's book" style, I have almost always opted for watercolors, which I find to be a more spontaneous medium capable of producing unexpected or random textures.
I must also mention my penchant for pencil drawings and sketches. These are more immediate and represent the moment when a brainwave transforms into a visible and assessable image.
In short, I have no true favorites among these mediums.
Notable Achievements:
Despite having collaborated with numerous talented individuals and prestigious companies over the years, I consider my greatest achievements to be enduring over fifty years in a volatile industry.
Additionally, receiving numerous messages from individuals who credit me with inspiring their careers in art and design, and even helping them through difficult life phases, has been immensely gratifying.
Favorite Work in Sorcery:
Selecting my favorite piece from Sorcery is quite challenging. However, I'll mention the first image I licensed to Sorcery titled ‘The Forging of the Treasures’, featured on the Elite Site card ‘Dwarven Forge’.
Originally commissioned by Usborne in 1986 for the book 'Norse Myths and Legends', the original painting was sold at a London gallery to one of my comic heroes, John Cleese, who has since become both a collector and a collaborator.
Find more of Rodney's work @ https://www.rodneymatthewsstudios.com/en-us