Art works: PRF by Iulia Matei

I studied animation at university, but before that I was drawing mostly for myself, faffing about! While uni was interesting, I’ve found the best training for me has always just been to sit down and do it. Whether it’s doing studies of art I love, or practising new techniques, you never know how you feel about something until it’s on the page in front of you.

An artist I really love is Peter Polach, whose work inspired the first pieces I drew that eventually led to PRF. When it comes to comics specifically, I adore Tank Girl. I find the chaos and style of that world really cool.

The comic launches in May after the Kickstarter ends. After that, I’ll be exhibiting at Inkblot, which is a comic festival happening at The Vat & Fiddle! It’s always just such a lovely place to be. The organisers put a lot of work into making it a place for everyone and a celebration of all things comics and art. I’m grateful to be involved with it.

If there is something that you want to make, please, I’m begging you, do it. Make it for the sake of it. Make it for others, even if it’s just your friends. Make the thing when you feel like a fraud. The world has too much polished, optimised, algorithm-approved, garbage art that lines the pockets of millionaires and bleeds the world dry. We need independent art now more than ever.

Head to Inkblot Festival at the Vat & Fiddle on Saturday 30 May to check out Iulia’s work and many more artists.

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