Background
CONTACTmattillustrates.com@gmail.com, (402) 618-9330
EDUCATION University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1995 to 2000), Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus on studio painting, drawing, graphic arts, and film studies
TECHNICAL SKILLS Procreate, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Flourish, Figma, Canva, Microsoft Office Suite, Google (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Maps, Earth), and Basic HTML and Web
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERT Illustrator, fine artist, graphic designer, and data visualization artist
SKILLED Storyboard and sequential artist
KNOWN FOR BEING highly creative, a problem solver, deadline-focused, with a background in research, critical thinking, and data analysis.
EXPERIENCED WITH Print and digital product design, such as books, comic books, posters, and magazines
AWARDS
SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN - Winner of 72 Awards of Excellence, 11 Silver and 1 Gold awards between 2006 and 2020.
GREAT PLAINS JOURNALISM AWARDS - First place ”Graphic/Illustration” – 2013, ‘15, ’16, ‘18, ’19, and ‘20; First place “News package” – 2017.
NEBRASKA AP NEWS & PHOTO CONTEST - First Place “Graphics” – 2009
EXPERIENCE
Contract artist, Omaha, NE.
ILLUSTRATOR, GRAPHIC ARTIST, COMIC BOOK ARTIST (2025 to Present)
Global Press Journal, Washington, D.C.
LEAD ILLUSTRATOR and GRAPHIC ARTIST (2020 to 2025)
Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, NE.
ILLUSTRATOR and GRAPHIC ARTIST (2005 to 2020)
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR.
GRAPHIC ARTIST and ILLUSTRATOR (2000 to 2005)
Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE.
NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION ARTIST (1998 to 2000)
The Daily Nebraskan, Lincoln, NE.
ART DIRECTOR, LEAD ARTIST, and DATA VISUALIZATION ARTIST (1996 to 2000)