Commissions Galore!

Thanks to everyone for continuing to stop by!
Here are two private commissions that I did this past week. One was a memorial of a beloved kittie friend, and the other was a request for a finished version of a sketchbool illo from, The Utilisaurus. Anyone who is ever interested in private commissions, please don't hesitate to email

Check out The Utilisaurus for daily postings of brand new sketchbook illos, a sequential comic strip, and various character designs.

New Interview!

For all you Illusauriheads out there, who toss and turn at night wondering, "Is Matthew Smith is his real name, or is he some type double agent?" Well...ANSWERS!! I just did an interview for Altpick, and it in all it's glory can be seen HERE!

The news here in Illusauriland.

wow...i apologize for the limited amount of attention that The Illusauri has gotten in the past few weeks. Firstly, the industry has seemed to have slowed down a bit for me and alot of my illustration colleagues. BUT, finding and creating the good out of the bad, I've been working with high dedication on my fun, newly popular blog, The Utilisaurus! There you will experience the astonishing excitement that is brand new daily posts of different sketchbook illos, a self published comic strip, and lots of cartoon character designs! Check it out, become a FOLLOWER, and join the fun that is The Utilisaurus!

Here is a new illo, inspired by my infatuated interest in professional tennis, which is conducting the first of four Grand Slams of the season at The Australian Open.

Self Portrait

For all you secret admirers of the illusauri out there...here is a sketch of the handsome devil behind it all.

Also, I just started a BRAND NEW second blog, which chronicles the days where I do NOT have any commissions to work on...THE UTILISAURUS!!

Get in the holiday spirit with The Illusauri!

To all my friends...from the North Pole to The Illusauri studios in Brooklyn, NYC...SEASONS GREETINGS!

Runner's World

New illo for the great people at Runner's World magazine. It's accompanying their Q&A page where RW's nutrition expert answers runners’ most pressing questions. This is meant to illustrate the concept of dividing your wholesome carbohydrates and proteins into around 60% carbs (fruits and veggies) and 40% protein. They use the visual help of envisioning a clock, at 12:40, as an easy way of dividing your food properly. This is somewhat of a different piece...because of the food items. I like the apple slices the most.

tattoo portrait

My good friend from college has been asking me for over 2 years to draw him a tattoo. Since he never had an exact idea of what he wanted...I waited. I didn't want to do anything he'd regret. But recently, he asked me to do a portrait of his grandmother with a beach scene. I thought by doing the idea of framing the portrait in, it makes it seem like stained glass, which is a nice visual solution. With the pulled curtains and sunset over the ocean, it will really pull the piece together.



I did the ink outline, which he is getting this week, and will do the color for him when he needs it in a few weeks.

Let's hope it turns out looking great!

Adventures into negligence with, "The Couch Potato"

As we do every winter, us at The Sketch Motel are working on yet another snazzy promotional mailer, and this year, i think we totally knocked it out of the park! The idea is to create a police lineup of various super-villains, who's alter-ego's are either ourselves, or the character was last seen in our individuals "rooms" (ie: our portfolio pages). For as much of a work-a-holic that I am, I have to admit, that The Couch Potato, is quite similar to me...not necessarially the tighty-whites...but his love for the sitcoms.



Super-Villain Name: "The Couch Potato"
Secret Identity: Matthew Smith
Super Power:  The stunning ability to destroy all that enters his path with a slew of random information of sitcoms. He seems like a non-threatening villain to cross, but get near the clicker or his big gulp...and you're in a world of unnecessary taunts as well as an overload of sarcasm, which will stop anyone in their path.
Weakness:  Exercise, power outages, heart attacks
Description: No one knows the mystery of The Couch Potato's birth. Many believe he was formed through couch fibers, and cheese wiz, others believe he is a product of TV executives. Either way, the myth of the couch potato does not under-mind the sheer evil of this master of reruns.
Last known location:  http://www.sketchmotel.com/matthew

Philadelphia City Paper

I just completed quite an interesting illo, where I was asked by the good people at the Philadelphia City Paper, to illustrate another cover of the man with the moustache, John Oates. Oates, (better known from the duo Hall & Oates), I believe is a current "B list" celebrity of Philadelphia, since he sang the National Anthem at Game 5 of the World Series in Philadelphia. I feel this portrait turned out great, and has become quite a nice portfolio piece!

The Michael Jacobs Memorial Fund

I just completed a flier for The Michael Jacobs Memorial Fund, illustrating an upcoming fundraiser/benefit concert. I used to go to these small punk/hardcore shows all the time when I was in my teens...so it was a fun commission, considering I used to be one of the regular attendees.

IF- Pretend (The Boo Ghosts are Restless)

As a child of the 80's, it's very nostalgic when the old Nintendo is turned on, and we are brought back to the mindset and imagination that we experienced in the world that is Mario. A world full of pretend...which is a part of all of us who experienced it.



14x17" Marker, pen & ink
2008

The Illusauri & Obama

I have been brutally addicted to everything political/election for the past two years, and never, EVER thought this day would come! Throughout these past 20 months since Obama first announced his plans for the presidency, we have seen this spokesman for the American people grow tremendously...and if all goes well tomorrow, we will be given the privilege to see him and our country grow greatly over the next 8 years. It's taken McCain 40+ professional years to reach this point...it's time he take a breather, and let the new generation run this country.

Lost At E Minor

My good friend, the amazing illustrator D E Cooper wrote a sweet, little paragraph about my work on the Australian website/blog Lost At E Minor. If you feel like enlightening your internet surfing, click below, and check it out!

Lost At E Minor