INTRODUCING MATILDA INNES
Words: Sarah Pratt
You know the good thing about maths, and believe me there’s very little, is that by studying maths countless minds across the globe come to the realisation that they’re not good at it. Forcing their attention away from a textbook of foreign sums into a world of doodling – Matilda Innes is one of those doodlers. Now lots of people can draw swirls inside a margin, but that doesn’t make them funny, that doesn’t mean that they’re going to be good at puns. Matilda Innes squiggles make us giggle, and because she’s mastered the art of puns we love her all the more. We’re Innes-pired. Sorry. We’ll stop there. If you would like your work featured please send us an email to submissions@spookmag.com
NAME: Matilda Innes.
AGE: 21.
FROM: Currently residing in Windsor, in a house that has five windows, four of which are inside the house. I’m from a little town in South Australia called Coonawarra where I spent a carefree childhood frolicking in rows of vineyards and playing in tree trunks with my sister and dog, until I was shipped off to boarding school in Geelong. After school, there was a small stint back at the homestead, a brief trip overseas and then I settled into Melbourne when I started Uni.
EXPERIENCE: My earliest memories of drawing are scribbling beards on ladies and long hair on men in the newspaper. A hobby I’ve picked back up, except now, I turn The Age into the Daily Prophet and everyone becomes a character from Harry Potter. I always enjoyed art in school, but for most of my time growing up I wanted to be a winemaker or journalist. It wasn’t really until year 10 that I decided I was okay at being good at art.
JOB: I work at the Espy in St Kilda at the Kitchen bar and spend most of my time there writing and re-writing the specials board. I originally moved to Melbourne for uni, but after a year and a half of studying Communication Design I realised I was miserable so dropped out, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made, I’ve found my stride with my drawing and it feels really good. This year I’m going back to uni, starting Fine Art at RMIT.
WHY: I draw because so far it’s the only talent I know about. I can’t sing or run, and maths was never and option, so instead drawing makes me feel clever.
INSPIRATION: Andy Smith is a very clever man, he has a way with letters, everybody needs to Google ‘Andy Smith The Face of Disaster’, it will change your lives. Nick White collages like it’s nobody’s business, and Benjamin Phillips is another illustrator I like to keep my eye on. Puns and wordplay are strong inspiration for me and text is a frequent feature in my work.
http://www.matildainnes.tumblr.com
February Hot/Not List
MATERIALS: Fine liner and watercolour.
TIME: 2 hours.
WHERE: Melbourne.
WHY: This is the second edition of the hot list. The January list came about during a conversation with a friend/co-worker and then after an afternoon with nothing to do I illustrated it. Due to popular demand amongst other co-workers the idea was revived for February, and possibly onwards if we’re still clever. Maybe it will replace the specials board at work.
Bitch I’m A Unicorn
MATERIALS: Watercolour.
TIME: 1.5 hours.
WHERE: Melbourne
WHY: I’d rather have a unicorn than a boyfriend. This was developed from some drawings in my sketchbook. Like most of my stuff, there is no real meaning behind it, something gets in my head and I draw it.
Valcano
MATERIALS: Paper and watercolour.
TIME: 2 hours.
WHERE: Melbourne.
WHY: Unfortunately I can’t take credit for this pun. This is probably the closest I’ve come to being commissioned to make something. One day I will make it into the t-shirt Al deserves.
Skeleton
MATERIALS: Paper, fine liner, and watercolour.
TIME: 3 hours.
WHERE: Melbourne.
WHY: This happened when I was putting together folios for interviews at the end of last year. In the original drawing I found, the skeleton was holding a bow and arrow, but a cigarette looks better. I’m going to point out the spelling mistake in believe, so far no one has noticed it, but I’d rather admit its there than have someone point it out to me.
Sexy Texty
MATERIALS: Watercolour.
TIME: 30 minutes.
WHERE: Melbourne, but I have a feeling the original idea was spawned on a long bus trip back home.
WHY: Rhyming is cool. Especially when it concerns good-looking folk and technology. I like greeting cards and so I’ve made a few; this is one of them. Perhaps I’ll make a business card version to hand out to bearded strangers on the street.
Muscles
MATERIALS: Fine liner.
TIME: 5 minutes.
WHERE: Melbourne.
WHY: This was just a bit of a scribble in my sketchbook, but one of the scribbles that actually looks kind of like something that’s been finished.
New Fork City
MATERIALS: Paper, fine liner.
TIME: 30 minutes.
WHERE: Melbourne.
WHY: At some point during my endless Internet exploring I saw something for a competition for New York themed artwork. The competition was long closed, but this idea came into my head so I just put it together.
Venus De Flytrap
MATERIALS: Cardboard, watercolour, print.
TIME: 30 minutes.
WHERE: Melbourne.
WHY: Why not?
MATILDA INNES’ WORKSPACE
