About
We express thoughts.
If you are looking for pictures, a Google search will provide more than we can, but The Drawing Book Studios will find you the illustrator who is able to express your idea in the most striking way possible.
We work with you to understand what the subject matter is, what perspective you are taking on that subject matter and the tone that you want to express it in.
Then we recommend the individual best suited to express your thought based on their unique combination of personal and professional experiences.
The Drawing Book Studios is a tight team of illustrators managed with a deeper understanding of what makes each illustrator individual from one another. We do this so that when they are expressing your thoughts they are doing it in the most authentic way.
You get the most striking expression of your ideas, because nothing can replicate an individual’s authentic self-expression.
Matt, Bec and Mike
Matt Jackson
Matt used illustration at an early age as an accessible escape from any circumstance he didn’t want to be in.At a later age he used it to avoid the boredom of Melbourne University’s Commerce and Arts lecture theatres. In spite of distractions he did hit the high score for Marketing Communications which sent him to Sydney to work in the Advertising industry.
After 6 years at DDB, Saatchi & Saatchi and BMF he decided he wanted to run The Drawing Book Studios.
Matt now conducts lectures to emerging illustrators on the cusp of representing themselves in the real world. He has spoken on effective management in the new world at Creative Sydney in 2010 and on the art of visually articulating ideas in 2011. Matt enjoys turning illustrators “inside out” for Desktop Magazine in a regular article that draws attention to what makes an individual irreplaceable and blogs monthly on the value of illustration to society.
Bec Aitken
When a young Bec first felt the fuzz of felt in her tiny hands primary colours bloomed in her eyes and she knew that an object had the potential to be whatever she fancied. That realization evolved into a Bachelor of Fine Arts with majors in Painting and Drawing, as well as a Diploma in Illustration.Her deft ability to stand tall in the middle and handle demands were forged in the hospitality industry. Her ability to relate to people’s needs being the only way to know whether to ask a cook to remove the anchovies or educate a customer that the experience would be so much tastier with them left in.
Finally before arriving at The Drawing Book Studios, Bec was working as Gallery Administrator at the Ray Hughes Gallery. Bec was first point of contact when clients arrived and knew how to deliver an appreciation for the individual behind the artwork. She excelled in handling the demands of an exhibition from logistics to pleasantries and all the pressures in between without losing her sense of humour.
Mike Watt
5 years ago Mike came to The Drawing Book Studios with a portfolio full of graffiti, but little evidence of an ability to handle digital media, which is crucial to any artist with ambitions to run the commercial art gauntlet. So it was recommended that Mike work on his digital skills before coming back.3 years later, after working as a retoucher and Mac operator for the demanding advertising industry, Mike produced a portfolio packed with imagery that demonstrated his deft digital hand as well as original illustrated, shoes, caps, mannequins and anything else he could spray paint. The Drawing Book Studios had no option but to put those skills to work or else he’d have taken his can to the building.
On a daily basis Mike offers his desktop publishing skills and brilliant brain to help ensure every visual expression of The Drawing Book Studios is a striking one.
The illustrated type shown above was created by Gina Kiel. To view Gina’s full portfolio click here.
Portraits of the Drawing Book Studios Management team were done by Billmund. To view Billmund’s complete portfolio click here.
