This month’s cover artist Iulia Matei talks comics, creativity and letting things figure themselves out.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
Hi, I’m Iulia, I’m an animator and comic artist from Romania. I’ve been in Notts for seven years and I feel so lucky to call this city home. I studied animation at DMU Leicester before deciding twelve drawings per second are too much for the patience I’m able to practice, and moved over to storytelling in the form of comics. Twelve pages for a whole chapter - much better.
What is the story behind the cover?
The cover celebrates creativity, the city, and above all, curiosity. I believe the purpose of art isn’t to inspire, isn’t to be something to master, isn’t something to define ourselves by. It is a form of play, a place to experiment and explore, something that I think humans were always meant to do.
I’ve tried sewing, pottery, yoga, writing, zine-making, photography, video, you name it. Nottingham has welcomed every interest with open arms, giving me the opportunity to simply have a go. I wanted to celebrate that.
What inspires you as a photographer/artist?
My work usually brings together my love of folklore, moody aesthetics and music culture. I love Eastern European folk tales, brutalist architecture, and I love the UK’s music scene, old and new. Those themes seem to collide a lot in my art.
Tell us about some things you’ve worked on in the past…
My most recent project has been PRF (Punk Rock Fairies), a comic that is basically a fusion of punk, dystopia and fantasy. I really like the idea of fairies (who are seen as natural creatures mostly) in a world that’s harsh and unforgiving. Smoke, concrete, acid rain, pollution, radiation… you get the gist. The story grew from there. Issue #1 was successfully funded on Kickstarter in May, and I’m now about to start working on issue #2.
Also, this is my third Leftlion cover! Thank you so much to the team for their trust in me.
you’ll probably never feel completely ready, so just start and figure it out as you go. You’ll land on your feet. Things have a funny way of falling into place.
Do you have any tricks for getting started and staying inspired as a creative?
You might be like me and have a big idea in your head for years, waiting for a perfect magical time when you’ll finally feel ready to do it. I sat with mine for about four years, and that time never came. I don’t think I was really waiting to be ready, I was just scared to start. It is scary and does feel like jumping off a cliff. But you’ll probably never feel completely ready, so just start and figure it out as you go. You’ll land on your feet. Things have a funny way of falling into place.
If you could sit down and chat with any artist in your field, who would it be and what would you talk about?
Karl Kopinski for sure. He is an absolute legend in the art industry, up there with the likes of Kim Jung Gi. I mean, the guy draws with both hands at the same time for Christ’s sake. He’s inspired generations of artists, worked across illustration for decades, and he just happens to be from Nottingham too.
It would be interesting to get his perspective on a lifetime as an artist, which projects have brought him the most joy, how he feels about the way the industry has changed, and what art means to him after all these years. And, of course, I’d have to ask about his favourite comics, I bet he has some killer recommendations.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
Have fun with art and follow your curiosity. Start that cool project you want to work on. You’re fiercer than you think!
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