Drawing in the Gaps: an Interview with Matthew Sorgie
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself
[MATTHEW:] My name is Matthew Sorgie and recently I’ve become a full-time artist. I would have been heading to the University of Southern California this year but with Covid-19, it didn’t make sense for me to take art courses online. I’ve been building a following throughout high school on YouTube and Instagram and I figured I’d take a chance on myself by taking a gap year to see what I can do on my own, then maybe head to college next year. I’ve been having fun working on personal artwork and uploading content.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What do you plan on majoring in?
[MATTHEW:] I was looking into animation, I’m really interested in pursuing that. I’m also interested in fine arts like illustration, painting, and drawing.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How did you first get into art?
[MATTHEW:] It’s one of those things I’ve done since I was born. There’s this great photo of me, I think my mom took it, in her home office I would layout on the floor with her printer paper and draw with crayons sprawled out all around me. It’s something I’ve always done and always loved. Around middle school, I started to dedicate more time to improving my skills. That’s when I started drawing every single day and filling up sketchbooks.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has taking a gap year affected your life?
[MATTHEW:] A lot changed since my gap year was a bit unexpected. I was lucky enough to have a small platform already which gave me a great base to work from. I went from a very structured day of high school to having full reign over planning my day. It’s really nice to have that flexibility because I have a self-directed workflow now. It allows me to be a workaholic too because everything that I’m doing is something that I love so I can work the whole day and never get bored.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has the pandemic affected your life and the way you make art?
[MATTHEW:] In the beginning it was definitely a creative boost because I had so much free time. I could just sit and draw without many distractions. Over the weeks there was a turning point where it seemed quarantine took a toll and there was nothing exciting happening to inspire me. I was hitting a creative rut. On the other hand, it did open a door for me because if it weren’t for the pandemic I would be in college right now. In a lot of ways, it ended up being a gift because now I’m working on my art every day and I feel more inspired than ever.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How would you describe the style of art you do?
[MATTHEW:] I always have trouble with this question because I struggle to find a style. I always tell my audience, “It’s okay to change things up and always be evolving. You can commit to something for a short period of time, but don’t be afraid to try something new.” I try to live by that. The style I’m working with now is more illustrative. I like exaggerating perspective and the human figure while playing with bright colors to capture a certain feeling or memory.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What is your favorite medium to create art with?
[MATTHEW:] I feel the most like an artist when I’m painting. I like that it’s a much more intimate experience with my paints and the canvas versus creating digitally. I gravitate toward certain media depending on what I am making, they’re all good for different things.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has your art style changed over the years?
[MATTHEW:] A big influence on my art style changing throughout high school were the classes I was taking. I did a drawing portfolio in my sophomore year and a 2D portfolio in my junior year and those are concentrated on one theme. They forced me to find a deeper meaning in my work and communicate a clear message to the viewer. My style definitely flip flops between extremes which I love but I’m hoping to eventually find a balance between them.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What artists inspire you?
[MATTHEW:] There’s one artist that will always stand out, his name is Aryz. I’ve been following him forever now and he does these huge beautiful murals. He does them all throughout Europe and captures people and scenes in such a simple, intentional way. He’s a big inspiration for me. James Jean is another really popular artist, his work is just mind-blowing the way he uses colors and shapes. His style has evolved over and over again. Every year he recreates himself and I love keeping up with him.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What in life inspires you?
[MATTHEW:] I used to get a lot of inspiration from what I was learning in school or being observant of the world around me. But at the moment, I’ve been tapping into my feelings. The piece I’m working on right now is looking back on my childhood and reimagining old family photographs in a more fantasy way. I’m trying to capture the beauty and simplicity of childhood.
[UNPUBLISHED:] When did you first start posting on TikTok?
[MATTHEW:] I got it last fall but I didn’t post much. I would post a TikTok every once in a while but wasn’t very active. A few weeks ago I posted a TikTok and it did really well so since then I’ve been posting at least once a day or sometimes twice.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How long did it take you to gain a following on TikTok?
[MATTHEW:] When I first started posting some people recognized me from Instagram and YouTube and would follow me. But my account didn’t grow much until I had one video all of a sudden reach 2 million views and the next one I posted got close to 2 million too. As of now, I’ve had some reach as much as 7 million views. A lot has changed just in the past 2 weeks. I wasn’t expecting that but it’s nice to see people responding really well to my content.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What is your most viral video?
[MATTHEW:] It’s a simple tutorial on how to draw someone with curly hair. To me, curly hair has always been the most beautiful thing. I think a lot of people responded well because it’s a beautiful thing to love yourself and that’s the message I’ve been trying to push on my platform.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have a favorite social media platform that you use?
[MATTHEW:] I started on Instagram then moved to YouTube then eventually moved to TikTok. I love TikTok because it allows me to reach an audience of people that wouldn’t typically watch art-related content. Anyone can scroll and come across an art video, but if they were on YouTube they may never click on it. It’s formatted really great because a viewer can come across things they wouldn’t have ever clicked on for themselves.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your business. What do you sell?
[MATTHEW:] This past year I started my own online shop. I built it all myself and I’m really excited about it. I make prints of my work and ship them out to everybody. I sell my zines and original pieces as well.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has your success on social media affected the way you make art?
[MATTHEW:] The way I made art shifted quickly because of TikTok. My past content was focused on my life and personal projects, but with my new following, I’m centering it around how my art makes other people feel. I have the opportunity now to connect with people in a different way. I have people sending me requests to draw people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Whether it’s ethnicity, hair type, weight, or a distinct facial feature I’ve been drawing portraits of people to give them the representation they don’t see in the media. To make content that makes people feel heard and loved is much more fulfilling for me.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has your overall experience promoting your artwork on social media?
[MATTHEW:] I’ve been really lucky. I’ve received nothing but positivity and support from my followers. I’m so grateful for the audience I have.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How have your friends and family reacted to your success?
[MATTHEW:] My parents are very supportive. They’ll offer to help me package orders if it gets to be too much. I’m really grateful for them. My friends too, they follow me and comment on my videos and are always curious to hear how my gap year is going.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What do you hope for the future as far as creating art?
[MATTHEW:] I would love to open an art firm and work alongside illustrators and animators all the time. I want to use art as a form of communication, especially when it comes to environmental and human rights issues. I want to tell people’s stories through art. I want to collaborate with more creators this year as well.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any advice for artists wanting to turn their art into a business?
[MATTHEW:] It’s half art and half marketing. It’s all about how you reach people so don’t worry about being a perfectionist when you put your work out there. Start posting today, you’ll be surprised how many people get excited about your work. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. It sounds daunting but all you need is a platform to set yourself up. I was able to do it myself, from building a website to printing and shipping. I truly believe if you want it, you can do it.
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