Young artist helps to raise funds to save the Amazon rainforest

By John Freeman on September 1, 2019

Young artist Matylda-Mai McCormack Sharp has joined many creators worldwide, putting her talents to inspiring use, in an effort to aid efforts to protect the rainforests and wildlife endangered by the fires currently raging in the Amazon.

Some of you may be more familiar with her father, Liam McCormack-Sharp, for his current work on Green Lantern and recent success on Wonder Woman. Going back further, I worked with him in the 1990s on Marvel UK’s hugely successful Death’s Head II project with Dan Abnett, masterminded by Paul Neary.

Rightfully proud of his daughter (although the entire family have talent in abundance for creating great art of different kinds and mediums), Liam has highlighted a terrific image she’s created, posted to Instagram, to help raise money to aid efforts to protect the rainforests and wildlife endangered by the fires in the Amazon.

Art and Instagram appeal by Matylda-Mai McCormack Sharp

Currently attending college as an Illustration Major, Matylda-Mai chose the endangered tapir as the focus for her fundraiser illustration as a symbol of hope, because they’re known for spreading seeds as they forage, even in devastated areas, increasing plant diversity.

Available for $20 (£16), 100% of the proceeds of sales of this image as a print will go to help fund relief efforts – and you should contact Matylda-Mai by Direct Message on Instagram if you want to buy one.

Matylda-Mai has been drawing for as long as she can remember. Proving herself a talented illustrator, she credits this to “being lucky enough to be born into a creative household” on her official web site, “never told that being an artist was an invalid career.”

• Matylda-Mai Illustration – Official Site | Instagram | Twitter

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.