Fantastical! Artist Matt Gaser launches new book

By John Freeman on July 9, 2020

Art Director and Concept Artist Matt Gaser – one of many artists whose work featured in my book, SciFi Art Now back in 2010 – has launched a new sketch book, FANTASTICAL: Sketchbook Volume 1.

This 80-page sketchbook is a companion book to the original Fantastical: The Art of Matt Gaser, loaded with new sketches, drawings, and amazing new worlds.

Each book comes personalized with a signed sketch by the artist.

Based in Northern California, Matt is a Spectrum award winning Illustrator/ Visual Development Artist who began his studies learning Illustration and Entertainment Design at Art Center College of Design. During his tenure as a driven student he interned at Klasky Csupo as a Background/Prop Designer for the animated series Rugrats, before completing his studies.

After graduation, he worked in video games for six years concept designing on such titles as Eragon, Forgotten Realms Demonstone, World of Warcraft and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

The games industry eventually led him to an amazing opportunity working for Lucasfilm on the CG animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. (Some of his art features in the book, The Art of Star Wars: the Clone Wars).

*Star Wars: The Clone Wars art by Matt Gaser*

In 2009, after several years at Lucasfilm helping craft The Clone Wars seasons One and Two, he decided to shift gears and began freelancing full-time out of his studio. Some higher profile projects he’s been designing for in recent years include Green Lantern: The Animated Series, feature film HOP, and more.

He recently started work at Warner Bros. Animation as a Visual Developement Artist.

In his free time, in between raising his family and stretching his arms as a gardening hobbyist, Matt has also created a fantasy children’s book series, which Chronicle Books picked up as a two book deal.

• Check out Matt’s official site and all his books at www.mattgaser.com

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.