Check Out Matt Thornton’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Thornton

Hi Matt , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Matt “Emskript” Thornton. I am an Illustrator, fine artist, educator and muralist. I’m a Veteran of the U.S. Navy. I like to use iconography and symbolism a lot in my work. It makes translating my art to other audiences much easier, showing them things that they recognize. Music, Hip-Hop in particular, is filled with icons, so it’s easy to find common ground and something to pull as far as inspiration goes. Stylistically comics and cartoons have always been what I use as reference, and keeping the same expressive colors and lines found in that medium is an important element of my style.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the things I always tell people, mostly my students, is you should never expect the path to your goals to be linear. You will often find that you will have to achieve your goals, in spite of, the negative forces that work against you. My difficulties range from the struggles all artist have, and some unique to myself. Perseverance is the one trait that is unique to all successful people, and the one skill we should spend the most time cultivating.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The thing I’m most known for at this point is the tire murals I’ve painted around the city of Detroit, and now Toledo. I always get compliments on the colors that I choose to use in my work. I’ve always considered choosing colors a weakness, so to be recognized and appreciated for that is something I really take pride in.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was always the “art kid.” A lot of my friends weren’t really into art, so my outside interest usually wrapped around what they were into. I was really into sports, and pretty athletic kid despite my size. The art was always something I reserved for myself, and it was what I was really passionate about. But I found doing things just to have company and friends pulled me away from art a lot of the time growing up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Emskriptarts.com
• Instagram: Emskript