Ok I am working on a comic idea here and would love to have folks look at it. these are firast drafts so they are just kinda being fleshed out.

 Ok here are the questions and how I might answer them please give me a hand here. i dont want to sound like a pompous git or end up being a sarcastic nitwit(wich usually happens when I start to write anything.

Who are your favorite artists/authors?
Well since most of my work is focused around kids my favorite artists are mostly illustrators like Maurice Sendak, Chris Van Alsburg, and Phillipe Fix. I also really enjoy the Asterix and Obelisk and Tin Tin illustrators,Uderzo and Herge. These aren't just comics; each panel is its own work of art. I also enjoy Mucha, Waterhouse, and NC Wyeth . My favorite lets say genre artist would be Charles Vess, Toni De Terlizzi and another comic guy Alan Davis. Froud and Lee, of course. I still have my original print of the 78 book faeries I stole from my sister when I was just a little redcap myself.
I also enjoy authors who can really paint a picture with their words, and hands down for me that is Charles DeLint. The story Jonathan Starnge & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke is also a wonderfully visual read. I also enjoy listening to the story teller Robin Williamson.


Why did you begin working in this genre?
That would be my daughter, Madeline; after she was born I started doing a sketch book of faeries for her. These weren't the cute winged sparkly fae but goofy looking sometimes spooky but mostly funny fae from around the world. I went fae crazy, looking for faerie stories and descriptions of faeries anywhere I went. When I finished the book we would look at it each nigh then talk about each faerie and where it came from and what it did. I also like to redo the stories, like in my picture big Red, you have a little girl who doesn't need any woodsman to help her out. She going to Grannies and understands the dangers entailed. I want her to realize she is strong and intelligent reworking the stories to empower the girl is key.

Where in time & place would you go if you had a magic wand?
Wow that's a fun one. I think it would be to the globe theatre to watch some Shakespeare. Perhaps sit in the Eagle and Child pub with Tolkien, Lewis, and Williams discussing the Lord of the Rings, Narnia and All hallows Eve. Perhaps, I would go to the great battle of Troy, and say something like, hey I really don't think bringin that big Ol wooden horse in here is such a good idea, maybe we could take pot shots at it with some flaming arrows instead. I would definitely go back and try to stop them from making the second Highlander movie. Perhaps check out a great concert of Silly Wizard now that would be awesome, but then again last Thursday was pretty cool as well.



When do you know you're finished with a piece?
Holy cow, I don't really know. I could most likely work on a piece forever if it's still in front of me. I have the tendency to work on about three pieces at once, so where I am on a picture might get confusing. It is also good to have a twelve year old niece and all her friends to tell me what they think, and if I should add anything. Some pieces have changed quite a bit and I am sure some will never get done I guess that's the fun part of it, you can almost be finished with one piece when all of a sudden you realize holy crap this is just the beginning of the picture I really wanted to do. It is definitely a journey with each piece sometimes it's a trip around the block others are long road trip where you run out of gas frequently yet at the end of the road the view is astounding.



What's next for Matt Hawk?
Hopefully more work, I am relatively new to this game so I don't know where it will take me. I would love to be able to hit more festivals and get my name out a little more. I am working on a great mural piece now with classical mythical creatures. I would very much like to illustrate a book or two, I have a story I am working on with a great author named Traci Wilson, I would love to see come out, as well as some stories I wrote. One about a twelve step program for wayward Trolls, and another story about a small bear families run in with an unruly teen who likes to break into there house. Until then it is just paint paint, paint and draw draw, draw, hopefully with a few sales thrown in.

Ok hese are the last two pics I am making for the magazine. they are two great celtic tales that are very funny. These along with the others posted i am sending of to faerie magazine. Is this enough should I send something in a different style, maybe the retro rock poster look. Please let me know, next up help with the questions.

Ok this is a kinda new one the original is a photto I did of madeline after I made her a dragon float for a kids parade, she didnt look to thrilled when we took the picture but it was a fun day. Now I just drew it up and stylized it a bit.

I dont know how many DeLint lovers there are out there but this picture came to mind after reading an early piece of his set in a faerie inhabited part of New York its kinda like morris dancer meets Clockwork Orange and Bikers but very fun.