iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I wrote a Substack post on my struggles after being diagnosed with ataxia. You can read it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/what-am-i-if-i-am-not-an-artist

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

What Am I if I Am Not an Artist?

When the artist disappears, what remains?

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I wrote a Substack post on how I created a book cover. You can read it here: substack.com/home/post/p-206650300

substack.com

The Anatomy of a Painted Book Cover

My illustration process

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I wrote a Substack article about illustrating three books by Jack Vance, which you can find here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/painting-the-worlds-of-jack-vance

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Painting the Worlds of Jack Vance

The many faces of Alastor

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I just wrote a post on Substack about the cover I ripped off from Rembrandt. You can read it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-cover-i-ripped-off-from-rembrandt

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Cover I Ripped Off From Rembrandt

Aristotle’s gaze, Caesar’s shadow, and a $2.3 million bargain

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I wrote a Substack article about lyrics, paintings, and the problem of explanation, complete with illustrations, here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/why-the-story-behind-a-song-can-ruin You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Why the Story Behind a Song Can Ruin It, But the Story Behind a Painting Never Does

Lyrics, paintings, and the problem of explanation

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I just wrote a story on Substack about my mom and her issues. Please check it out, and subscribe to “My Adventures as an Illustrator.” substack.com/inbox/post/212358381

substack.com

The Biggest Breasts

My mother and her issues

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I wrote a Substack about my experiences working on “Dick Tracy” at Walt Disney Studios. You can read it, complete with illustrations, here: substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

The Signs That Almost Broke the Matte Department

Memories of "Dick Tracy"

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I spent two years working on “The Black Hole” for Disney Studios I wrote an article on Substack about my experiences, complete with illustrations, here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/inside-the-black-hole-lessons-from

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Inside The Black Hole: Lessons from My First Big Production

Proof that fun doesn’t equal a good movie

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I just wrote an article on Substack about nude paintings that I love. You can read about it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-nudes-...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Nudes I Love: A Personal List

From Titian to Assael

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I was a teacher at the School of Visual Arts for 21 years and at Pratt Institute for 15. I wrote an article on Substack about my approach to teaching. You can read the complete Substack article, complete with illustrations, here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/my-approac...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

My Approach to Teaching

You never know

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I wrote a post on Substack showing our custom holiday cards through the years, including the fold out Animorphs card I did. You can read about it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/a-life-in-...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

A Life in Holiday Cards (and Cats)

Our holiday cards through the years

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I wrote a Substack about painting 9 covers for Alan Dean Foster’s Star Trek novelizations. You can read it here: substack.com/home/post/p-203289568

substack.com

When the Ship Isn’t the Star: Solving the Star Trek Cover Problem

Alan Dean Foster’s novelizations

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

You can read my post on Substack about working on "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-movie-...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Movie I Walked Away From

Recollections of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I wrote a post about my brush with the music business on Substack, complete with illustrations, here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/my-brush-w...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

My Brush With the Music Business

Album covers

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I wrote a Substack post on the long history of covers for James Blish’s “Cities in Flight,” including my own. You can read the whole article, including illustrations, here: substack.com/home/post/p-202992514 You can buy signed prints here: www.davidmattingly.com

substack.com

When Cities Took Flight: Covering James Blish

Painting "Cities in Flight" after "Dick Tracy"

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I wrote a Substack article about my first job working for an adult film producer, Howard Ziehm: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/flesh-flash-and-fortune-my-unlikely

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Flesh, Flash, and Fortune: My Unlikely Start with Howard Ziehm

The Job That Launched My Career (And the Film I’m Glad I Wasn’t Credited For)

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about my memories of Tom Kinkaide. You can read it here, complete with illustrations: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/between-li...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Between Light and Illusion: Remembering Tom Kinkade

On art, honesty, and illusion

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I wrote a post on Substack outlining my concerns with AI. You can read it here, complete with illustrations: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/my-thought...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

My thoughts on AI

In ten years, "The Terminator" may look less like a thriller and more like a documentary.

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about the storytelling of one of my favorite artists, Joe Kubert: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/joe-kubert... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings, including "The Company Man", here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Joe Kubert’s Influence on Visual Storytelling

He told stories

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I wrote a Substack about how I dislike art that requires an explanation for the viewer to appreciate it. You can read it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-work-s...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Work Should Speak First

If it needs an explanation, it didn’t work

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I wrote a Substack article how I came to do the cover for "The Voice of Cepheus" by Ken Appleby here myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-cover-... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings, including "The Voice of Cepheus", here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Cover That Took Me Back to Childhood

The Voice of Cepheus

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about one of my most popular paintings, “St. Joan snd the Computer.” You can read about it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-martyr... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings, including St. Joan, here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Martyr of the Digital Age

Saint Joan and the Computer

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Today is my 70th birthday, and it is a rough one for me because of my circumstances. I wrote a longer Substack post about what's going on, if you want the fuller picture: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/getting-old

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Seventy: Not the Ending I Imagined

Getting old

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about artists repeating themselves, including me. You can read about it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/repeating-...? You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

In Defense of Repeating Yourself

You never know when something great will happen

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about the book I hated the most, and the lesson I learned from it. You can read about it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-book-i... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here, including the “Operation Isis” cover: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Book I Hated—and the Lesson I Needed

Operation Isis

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about the “Choose Your Own Adventure” covers. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here, including the “Choose Your Own Adventure” covers: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Covers I Didn’t Know Would Matter

Why every cover matters

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about my father, John W. Mattingly, inventor of the Waterpik. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

My Father, the Man Behind the Waterpik

John W. Mattingly

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about doing two The Savage Sword of Conan covers for Marvel. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

The Conan covers

My trip to Marvel

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about the many Animorphs internet memes. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here, including the humorous ones: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

I Made the Animorphs Covers. I Did Not Expect This.

Animorphs memes

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about my humorous covers. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...? You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here, including the humorous ones: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

My Humorous Covers

The funny stuff

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about my prep school experience at Principia. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...? You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about my early years, and the friends who were key to my development . You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...? You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about creating the Honor Harrington covers. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...? You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

Honor Harrington

My work for David Weber

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about using myself as a model. You can read about it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/using-myse... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings, even the ones I posed for, here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Using Myself as a Model

I used myself as a model a lot

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I wrote a Substack article on my painting “The Subway Wizard.” Check it out, and feel free to leave a comment. myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/the-subway-wizard You can buy signed prints of “The Subway Wizard” here: davidmattingly.com/category.php?id=2517&n=Wizards

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

The Subway Wizard

The painting with the most "in" jokes

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I wrote a post on Substack about an ill fated video game I worked on called The Marexx. You can read about it here: substack.com/home/post/p-199411692 You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

substack.com

Magicmaker

With Alan Dean Foster and Barclay Shaw

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

I wrote a Substack article on illustrations I did for a men’s magazine “Velvet Talks”, and how I came to do them. Check it out, and feel free to leave a comment. myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/artists-ag... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings here: www.davidmattingly.com

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

Artist’s Agents

"Velvet Talks" magazine

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I just wrote a Substack article on my worst covers, and why they turned out that way. Check it out, and feel free to leave a comment. open.substack.com/pub/myadvent... You can buy signed prints of any of my paintings (even the bad ones) here: www.davidmattingly.com

open.substack.com

My Worst Covers

City of a Million Legends and Masters of Space: A Plague in Paradise

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

I just wrote a Substack article on my weirdest experience with a model. Check it out, and feel free to leave a comment. myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/my-weirdes...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

My Weirdest Experience With a Model

Steve White’s "Forge of the Titans"

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I just wrote a Substack on my first book cover. You can read the whole article with illustrations here: open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...? Pease subscribe, and leave a comment if you like.

open.substack.com

My First Cover

A Wizard in Bedlam by Christoper Stasheff.

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

I just wrote a piece on the day I met Walt Disney, and how that influenced my career as an arist. Please check it out, and subscribe to my Substack, “My Adventures as an Illustrator.” open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...?

open.substack.com

The Day I Met Walt Disney

My visit to Disneyland

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I just wrote a long piece on the history of morphing. Please check it out, and subscribe to my Substack, “My Adventures as an Illustrator.” open.substack.com/pub/myadvent...?

open.substack.com

What is “morphing?”

A cross dissolve with warping

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I just wrote a long piece on how I did The Animorphs covers. Please check it out, and subscribe to my Substack, “My Adventures as an Illustrator.” myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com/p/how-i-did-...

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

How I Did the Animorphs Covers

Photoshop and Elastic Reality

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

On Substack I take a deep dive comparing two illustrators I admire, Michael Whelan and Frank Frazetta. You can read it here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com Please subscribe to "My Adventures as and Illustrator" for more stories, and leave comments if you find my analysis lacking.

myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

My Adventures as an Illustrator | David Mattingly | Substack

Here are stories of my 50 years working as an illustrator. Click to read My Adventures as an Illustrator, by David Mattingly, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I have two more sketches up for sale on Heritage auctions, this time for The Messiah Stone and Starship and Haiku. comics.ha.com/c/search/res... I have stories about the creation of these on my new Substack section here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com?utm_campaign...

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I put my cat Orson in all of my paintings, sometimes hard to find, sometimes easy. Here are a few more examples. I write about it at length in my Substack section. myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

I have two more preliminary paintings up for sale on Heritage: comics.ha.com/c/search.zx?... “Sten: The Wolf Worlds” by Chris Bunch and Allan Cole “The Undersea Trilogy” by Jack Williamson and Fred Pohl I have a new Substack here: myadventuresasanillustrator.substack.com

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Thanks for another spectacular sale of my work through Heritage.com. I have two more sketches from some of my favorite projects. Please click on the link to see a full sized .jpg of the sketches comics.ha.com/c/search.zx?...

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Tonight is the auction of my sketches on Heritage. Both are priced very reasonably, so click the link for a chance to own a piece of original art for less: comics.ha.com/c/search.zx?...

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David Mattingly @davidmattingly.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Thanks to everyone for a sensational sale of my work through Heritage.com. I have two more sketches from some of my favorite projects. Please click on the link to see a full sized .jpg of the sketch: comics.ha.com/c/search.zx?...

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