Meet Matthew Cassisi | 3D Artist & Digital Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Cassisi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was a kid, I spent most of my time laughing and enjoying cartoons and video games, and I felt a special kind of connection with anything that provided an expression of creativity. So it is no surprise that growing up, I was always into drawing and exploring my imagination. As early as elementary school, I would draw all over the back of my tests, and I even remember making little comics of my friends and I’s made-up Minecraft characters in middle school! I always felt like I had a strong passion to create.
My parents specifically were always enthusiastic about my creativity, and they always encouraged me to follow this creative path that I found so much joy in. When I was in high school and the time came to start thinking about my plan for college, there was no question that I wanted to pursue art in some form. While I had my interests in traditionally creating art, I also deeply enjoyed learning about technology. This led to me wanting to combine my creative side with my interest in computers, leading to me going down a career path in digital art!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work primarily consists of 3D Art and Digital Illustration, so I’m often working at my computer in Blender, Unreal Engine, or with my drawing tablet! My artistic inspirations have always been fueled by the media I enjoy taking in, that media primarily being video games. From creating concept illustrations in Photoshop to creating props and environment set pieces in Blender, I love creating artwork that feels like in belongs in a video game. If I were to point out a specific inspiration, I would have to pick the Halo series. The cool armor the characters wear, the creative alien designs, and the interesting sci-fi environments found throughout the universe have always been an aesthetic I’ve looked up to!
Being a digital artist has taught me many lessons, but the two biggest lessons I’ve learned are these: Always create the artwork that YOU want to create, and always be open to learning new skills. Part of the fulfillment I receive from being an artist comes from one simple thought: “I want to create things that the kid and adult version of me would look at and say ‘WHOA!!!’”. Sometimes to achieve that, it will be a piece of cake, but other times, it may require you to do some research on specific skills that you can learn in whatever software you’re using. If you love to learn like I do, though, that is half of the fun!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love going out to eat, so naturally the first thing I would do is bring them to one of my favorite Hot Pot and Bubble Tea spots! But aside from that, I have always been a big fan of summer vibes, so I would definitely recommend going to Jenkinson’s Boardwalk at Point Pleasant. If you want to go to the beach, grab some ice cream, enjoy some fun rides, or just take in the warm summer air, there is something for everybody there! New Jersey has some awesome beaches in general!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a big thank you to my family and friends from home! They have always inspired me to explore my inner artist from a young age. I also want to thank my friends from Montclair State University, who have motivated and inspired me to grow into an artist I have always wanted to be!

Website: https://mattcassisi413.wixsite.com/matthewcassisi/portfolio

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-cassisi-067a95210/

Other: ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/mattycazart