Meet Matthew Aceves

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Aceves.

Hi Matthew, 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?
Drawing has always been a part of my life since I was a kid, and I just kept doing it. For me, it served as an escape and a therapeutic activity, especially since I was an energetic child and as well as helping me with my speech impediment. It was a nice change of pace from track & field and baseball, sitting down, listening to music and getting lost in my drawings. Throughout my childhood, I was always fascinated with animals and even wanted to study that field of work. That dream fell short as I have bad allergies, so I started illustrating them. I did not have anyone I could ask questions that had an artistic background, a mentor essentially. Initially, I relied on YouTube or Google searching up “how to draw .pdf free.” I realized that it is not just the information you get from Google and Youtube that counts, but the experience and knowledge you gain from practicing every day. Throughout my life, the support of family and friends has always motivated and encouraged me to pursue my artistic passion. It would not be possible for me to be where I am today without their support. They have been my biggest supporters. As of right now, I am a student at the ArtCenter College of Design, studying Illustration and Design. I recently got into murals, which was a big goal of mine to pursue growing up seeing all these murals in Los Angeles. Even though I am shy, being able to impact and interact with the community positively with my art is the best feeling.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course not. I am thankful for my parent’s and family’s constant sacrifices to support not only me but also my siblings. Despite the obstacles I continue to face as an aspiring artist, they want the best for me. It won’t always be easy, but I believe that rough roads are there for a reason.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is analog. Most people know me for my colored pencils, graphite/charcoal, and aerosol work. I am most proud of my aerosol and printmaking work because I’m new to those methods of art and those two mediums were always something I wanted to do as a kid but never imagined myself working with them. Graphite has always been the material of choice for me since it is affordable and does not require much space. Being able to work traditionally, utilize the print shop for something I’ve always found fascinating but didn’t know how to do until now, and being able to work with aerosol on a huge scale while spending time outside rather than inside all day are all blessings in and of themselves.

What matters most to you?
Apart from family, consistency is the most important thing to me. It makes all the difference in the world, art is something no one can take away from me and being able to draw and do what I am doing right now is something I could never have imagined.

Contact Info:

• Website: matthewaceves.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewacevesart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfoGeNzPE67EWlY3frq_kXA
• Other: https://matthewacevesart.bigcartel.com/