We recently connected with Mandy Matthews and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mandy, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Absolutely I wish I could have started doing real art sooner. I grew up in a small town, people saw me as “that girl who can draw” and they would playfully tell me that I should become an artist, but in that way that you knew they thought it would be completely impossible to actually pursue it. Anytime I’d mention it, it would be followed up by “what’s your back up plan?” And as much as I tried to push and be my own person, that sort of thinking really effected me. I went to school and got my bachelors in graphic design, which I’m so grateful for the things I’ve learned, the people I’ve met and how it did help me grow, but it was definitely my safety net. Because with graphic design you can go get “a real job” at an agency or for a brand. But in those jobs, I always felt like I was missing out on something. I would talk about one day being freelance, but in my head it was years down the road, because who was I to think I was good enough to do my own thing? But some circumstances shifted and basically I kind of had to become freelance, and every day I’m so grateful for it. And I’ve become a lot bolder in pursuing my art, trying to overcome the anxiety of how “impossible” it is to be an artist. It’s definitely hard, trying to convince people your worth, but I’ve found that as I’ve reached out to other creatives and asked questions, I’ve found so many people who have happily given me advice and want to help me succeed. So honestly, I think that’s what I wish I had done sooner, reaching out and asking questions and getting other input. But I think the ability to do that has only really come in recent years, now that the internet and social media has made it more accessible to not only see other artists work, but interact with them, even if you don’t live in the same state- heck, even the same country! So yes, start as soon as you can, and get the hard years over with so you can get to the fun stuff faster.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Mandy Matthews, I am an Illustrator + Graphic Designer from Arizona. I have always loved to draw and create stories, it’s what drives my work. What influences my art is pop culture, books, dystopian worlds, and the mysteries of the desert. I’m always looking to create and collaborate with others on making their ideas come to life, whether it’s through a highly rendered, fantastical piece or creating a brand true to their deepest values. I don’t want to settle for what is expected or trendy- we should always shoot for authentic and lasting design.

I’ve been fortunate to work in a myriad of mediums (digital, pencil, pen, acrylic, murals) with a vast range of clients, I am always up for a new challenge. I’m really looking for opportunities to create more artistic, highly rendered pieces, like comics, graphic novels, or if a brand wants to go nuts with their assets, I’m your girl!

I’m really proud of my most recent work, where I’ve focused on women in a dystopian future, but I like breaking the cycle of oversexualized ideations of these women. I want to expand the expectations of what it means to be a woman. As someone who didn’t fit the mold in a lot of ways, I want other people to feel like they can be their most authentic selves.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Your path does not remotely have to look like anyone elses’. One of our biggest roadblocks as people is the fear of having to think for ourselves. We would all so much rather have a clear path or have someone tell us what to do. I think that’s why so many people end up in a subpar life. A lot comes from our predecessors, because for them the formula worked: get to school, get a job, get married, have the white-picket fence. And it’s not to say going to school and doing a practical job is at all a waste of time or bad- there’s so much to learn and experience, and so many jobs that need wonderful people to fill them. But the importance of being intentional in your choices, curating your path is so important, so that after work you have something that reignites that spark for life. As creatives, where the road is a lot less clear and can branch out in so many crazy ways, it can be intimidating. But it requires me to really think about what I’m doing with my life. Where am I spending my time, where am I going to find my next job, what project should I work on- all of it gives me a life where I am being actively engaged, which I think we all need to do. And I get that sometimes you don’t want your hobbies to become your job, it can definitely kill your love for something. I think it’s important to not lose the things that make you feel human, and that comes from maybe doing something that looks a little odd or even crazy to everyone around you, but the payoff of making a choice that’s right for you can make all the difference.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I love that I am always getting to try new things. Being an artist, you become so many other ‘things’, because of who you get to work with. Not just with clients, where I get to be an advocate for people’s health by helping a company make testing more available, or delving into the world of fashion and helping a vintage shop get more sustainable clothing into people’s hands, but in the artist community itself. I have the opportunity to meet other amazing creatives- and that word “creative” can encapsulate all sorts of talent; painting, knitting, pottery, murals, and on and on. There’s so much support once you know where to look, and it gives you that third space that is missing in more recent years. There’s ACTUAL community. I just get to constantly gain new experiences and find people who think completely different than me and have incredible stories to share. It puts me in my place, humbling me a bit, but also inspires me and my work. I would never trade these experiences for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.averageanomaly.com
• Instagram: @average.anomaly
• Facebook: Average Anomaly
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/averageanomaly
• Other: Tik Tok: @average.anomaly

Image Credits
Photography by Zack Placencia