Matt Nesbary is a painter and digital artist from Adrian, Michigan. His daydreamlike images can be seen on DeviantArt under the name Superduperhuey and on his website http://www.nesbary.com/matt/.

Which artists have most influenced your work, and who are your favorite artists?
With the Internet there is so much artwork to look at it’s almost overwhelming. Graffiti, cubism, surrealism, and impressionism are several styles of art that really influence me. I like M.C Escher and Salvador Dali. I also like the comic book artist Todd McFarlane. Right now I’m really getting into computer generated art. My favorite artists are the guys and gals at conceptart.org. I don’t know any specific names but the artists they feature are all very good. That website has really helped me learn more about the process of making digital art.

Describe your creative process. Do you start with images or ideas?
I start with images and draw until I start to see something interesting. Sometimes I just end up drawing abstract shapes and sometimes my scribbles turn into people or objects. Once I get a few solid images I switch to thinking about the picture as a hole. Stepping back from the painting and taking a break helps to give me a better perspective on it. I just work until every part of the picture is at the level of detail I’m shooting for.

What tools do you use in your work?
I started out using oil and acrylic paints. Right now I am really getting into drawing on the computer. I use Corel Painter and Photoshop. I like the blending effects that can be achieved with Painter and I use Photoshop for editing and adjusting colors. I also have the low end Wacom drawing tablet. Learning how to use a drawing tablet is really what got me into making on the computer. However I do really like oil and acrylic painting. I have about 60 unfinished paintings in my basement and sometimes I will go down and work on them. I am also experimenting with taking digital images of my paintings and then drawing over them on the computer.

Does inspiration come to you or do you actively seek it? If so, how?
Inspiration just comes to me. I think about drawing and art all the time. Being inspired to draw is fun but it also takes a lot of time and effort to really turn an idea into a finished painting.

When did you begin practicing your art and how did you learn?
I have always been interested in art. I started out reading comic books and trying to draw characters. I took art classes in school and eventually I got into acrylic and oil painting. I started painting about five years ago. Before that I drew with sharpie markers or pencils. Right now I am an art major in college. I learned by drawing what I was interested in.

Is there one piece that is special to you, or that you particularly enjoyed creating?
I really liked making Reality Generator. It is the first really detailed piece I did on the computer. I learned a lot by making it. I tried a lot of things I had not done before with that painting. I merged some 3d models into that painting but I ended up painting over them.. I was also really playing with 2d to 3d transitions and transparencies and I like how it turned out.