Etsy commissioned artist and Etsy seller Matty8080 to make a custom press kit. While we were at it, we figured we'd squeeze some secrets out of him, namely how he stays so darn creative.

The Storque: Please introduce yourself.

My name is Matt M. Cipov. I am in theory 30 years old, but if pressed for an answer, I honestly think of myself as somewhere between 8 and 16. I have never pictured myself as anything but an artist, and my entire life has been filled with constant art making, other sorts of creative pursuits and complete goofing around. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I love it here. Milwaukee is a great place to carve out a niche, and it's only getting more interesting as time goes by.

I've been self-employed since late 2005. While it was initially quite scary, I now look back on all of the projects I've taken on and they seem so much more confident and alive than anything in years past. I'm grateful for Etsy because it helped prove to me that the things I make and the ways I express myself can help me survive, especially in a world so full of other art, design and distractions.

Describe how you decided to express yourself with the work you did for Etsy promo materials.

Etsy is such a freethinking company, and they really projected that upon me. I was given a list of art projects, but almost no requirements — I was trusted to have fun and submit things when I felt happy with my end result.

While brainstorming, I would get fleeting pieces of ideas, and rather than drain the life out of them in a prolonged development stage I went right to my "final draft." I attempted to do as little second-guessing as possible.  I had so much fun making my art for the promotion that I could have kept going and going ... and going.

What do you think of the Etsy Labs?

Etsy is everything I love about the underground art scene. Most big cities have their own occasional expos of alternative arts and crafts. Various parts of the country have 'Bizarre Bazaar', Chicago has things like the 'DIY Trunk Show' and even Milwaukee has something called 'Art VS. Craft'... but these things happen only a few times per year.

Etsy takes the basic concept of these shows — that creative people of any discipline, age, and gender can find a place to sell what they do, no matter how basic, or expensive, or controversial, or personal — and adds a special touch. They want this sort of thing to happen anywhere, with thousands of products for you to buy right off of your computer screen.

Etsy is a heck of a good way to let people know that you don't have to go to a retail store or shop on QVC to buy something. If you search hard enough, there is a world of interesting things that are so much more personal and devoid of corporate facelessness.

What kind of graphic arts jobs do you do? You're working full time as an artist...

My jobs can vary considerably from month to month. I get a lot of work from bands that need poster and design work. Sometimes I lend a hand in designing websites for people. And there are times where I step pretty far outside of graphic design so I can make art for gallery shows, or commissions for people. Plus, now that I have my Etsy shop, there is a continual process of prepping new prints, prepping packages, buying supplies and going to the post office.

Since I work for myself, it isn't always about art, and I think that's cool. I get to make my own executive decisions, work on constructing my own home studio, seeking out new work and overseeing the dynamic of my own shop. It's very rewarding.

Do you have any anecdotes about becoming an artist or something that has influenced your career decisions? Describe a significant moment(s) that made you understand what you wanted to do or what was important to you.

I think I owe the good majority of my self-employment to the internet. If the internet were a person, I would hug it.

Back in late 2005 when I felt like my ability to sustain a corporate desk job way ebbing, I was also getting a taste of what the internet could do for my career. What I saw was that, without overtly trying to find work online with things like my blog or my Myspace account, I was finding projects and being offered work. It made me think that if I devoted myself to making art, promoting myself and increasing my presence on the web, that I might be able to make a living off of being self-employed.

And I decided to trust that theory and take the plunge into self-employment.

The internet is it's own galaxy. There are millions of people looking for millions of things and craving millions of styles and if you look hard enough, you can find an audience for what you do.

I'm darn glad that I have. THANK YOU INTERNET, YOU ARE RAD!!!

What advice would you give to people (especially young people or those wanting to make a big change in their lives) who want to get into this field?

If you do art, design work, or crafting with a passion...If you put your heart and personality into what you do and you want the world to notice it, it is up to you to show how much of yourself you pour into your work. We live in a world loaded with artists and people who make things, and at times people who do things as a passing fancy can take the spotlight as much as people who do creative things to survive. And if you are attempting to live off of your craft, any personal touch you can add to what you do can make such a positive difference. The way you package your parcels, the way you describe your art, the name you might choose for your business, the look of your business card, the special promotions or incentives you might offer people potentially interested in what you do. It helps to make people think, it makes you stand out and it generates a buzz that makes what you do all the more memorable.

If you want to survive on this planet, you have to be willing to show how much love you have for what you do that keeps you happy.

And it is good to try making art as often as you can. Even if you are in something of a rut, you can work on simple studies. Draw something you see in a magazine, draw your own hand, sketch a person sitting in a cafe: above all, keep your creative mind sharp so you don't find it too easy to stagnate, or get down on yourself for not making things often enough.

What specific materials and tools do you use? What's your favorite thing about these?

I like to keep things simple. I enjoy using the most minimal of materials to convey as much as I possibly can. If I can say what I have on my mind with basic white paper and some ink, I'll do that. Sometimes I will use various cardstocks as my surface, or cardboard, and I will introduce things like cut paper, paint pens, stampers, or even stickers I pull out of the insides of shirts at retail stores. These materials have become something of a calling card for me, and they are easy to use, easy to travel with and come in such a large variety of styles and ways of application that I can't really see myself growing tired of what I use when I work.

If I can make art nearly as fast as ideas come to me, I am a happy boy.

How has the internet influenced or not influenced your art? The way you do your art? What are the pros and cons of this distribution? or how has digital media influenced how your work is distributed?

The internet has not changed how I work, but it certainly has changed the scope of my work. For all I know, I may have been confined to region work if I wasn't online... but with the information super highway helping me, I am able to make art for people anywhere on this planet, and my artistic possibilities are almost limitless. I'm grateful for that.

Some people fear that using the internet as a tool to help an art career makes you far too open to things like art theft, but personally, I don't let things like that bother me.

Because of the fact I am online, I've been given the chance to have my work distributed in all sorts of new ways. Not only can I sell things in my Etsy store, but I also have been asked to sell art and prints in various boutiques and I've been featured in some art shows. Boutiques and galleries are always looking online for new artists, and it's always nice when they find me. I know for a fact that my digital presence is the main reason that they do.

Do you think about your audience when you're working? What sort of interesting feedback do you get from your audience? Etsy members?

When I make art, the most important goal is that I have fun. If I have fun making art, I have less of a chance of rehashing art I've already made, and the fun I had shows in the art. If people can feel the energy, they might be interested in it and wonder what I might be making next. I suppose that's my version of thinking about my audience.

I like to pose question to people and take requests, especially when I am working on animal related art. Just when I think I have drawn pretty much all of the animals I can think of, someone comes out of left field with something creative (i.e. platypus, narwhal, raccoon, etc ...) and I feel like I have fresh perspective all over again. Anytime I am stuck while making art, I can always find someone who wants to push me in the right direction again.

Do you use reference art? Where do you get inspired?

My home office is loaded with all sorts of animal books, comics, magazines, music, snacks, strange toys, art supplies, and all sorts of things that make me feel comfortable when I work. I like having all sorts of reference on hand, never knowing what I might need for projects. My brain never shuts off, so I am constantly getting inspired by things around me: anything from a person I might see in a crowd, a song I can't get out of my head, an unusual meal from a place I've never been before, pieces of conversation, comfortable shoes, the art of a person I admire, a good movie, the sound of my son laughing ... I get inspired by lots of different things, and I like to store them in my head to be pulled out at a later date.

Is there anything you want to say that we didn't we didn't ask you about?

I can't think of anything else I would like to add. ETSY LABS IS AWESOME!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! XXOXOXO