Mateusz Leszczyński
2D artist. I create comics and graphic novels, conceptual art, character designs and character illustrations.
I work in digital and traditional media, specialising in whimsical, historical and fantastical themes.Open to creative and dynamic projects in publishing, advertising and entertainment.
contact:
matleszczynskim@gmail.com
Recent projects
Game Assets Illustrations
Illustrations of various assets and characters for the development of campaigns in tabletop roleplaying games, mobile and computer games.
Digital Illustration
Character-focused illustrations created in digital painting programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint EX, often adding 2D Animation elements.
Comic
Publications
Self written and illustrated comics and zines, published to audiences online and offline, containing themes such as mental health or environment preservation.
Graphic
Novel
Cavalieri. The Love of Michelangelo is a master's thesis project as a 116 pages historical fiction graphic novel. Finalised with the full authorial control over the art direction and execution, including a hand-bound comic book and an exhibition display.
Product
Illustration
Illustrations for commercial use on products such as scented candles, tote bags and stationery stickers, created with the focus on increasing the aesthetic pleasure of using everyday items.
Graphic Design
High quality and original graphics for use in promotional materials, such as banners, leaflets, posters and social media content. Often with use of subtle motion graphics.
About the artist
contact:
matleszczynskim@gmail.com
Hello! I'm Mateusz Leszczyński and I am a 2D artist located in Poland. I specialise in whimsical, historical and fantastical themes. I create comics and graphic novels, conceptual art, character designs and character illustrations. I often adapt my illustrative skills into product design to use in advertising or production.I am used to bearing the whole project weight alone from start to finish with great organisation and control, but I also work well in teams - I was the leader of a student organisation "Punkt Grafiki" for 2 years and a member for 3 years. I organised multiple art projects and exhibitions, as well as led graphic arts workshops.I graduated with a Master's Degree of Fine Arts from University of the Arts Poznań (UAP).
Game Assets Illustrations
Equipment for a Noble Bard character
Clip Studio Paint EX and Adobe Photoshop, 2023
Sorcerer's Spellbook
Clip Studio Paint EX and Adobe Photoshop, 2023
Character Spotlight Designs
Clip Studio Paint EX and Adobe Photoshop, 2022, 2021
Fantasy Pet Dragon Concept Sketch
Clip Studio Paint EX, 2023
Product Illustration
Apollo ∙ Freyja ∙ Venus ∙ Isis ∙ Mokosz ∙ Hecate ∙ Hades & Persephone ∙ Achilles & PatroclusIllustrations of mythology gods, goddesses and heroes. Used in Bruxa Alchemy mythology scented candles collection
Adobe Photoshop, 2022
www.bruxa.shop/mythology
Design for the personal brand - graffiti inspired by the Greek god Dionysus.
Adobe Photoshop, 2019
Digital Illustration
Graphic Novel
Cavalieri. The Love of Michelangelo
The graphic novel Cavalieri. The Love of Michelangelo is a work of the historical fiction genre, depicting a queer interpretation of the relationship of Michelangelo and Tommaso dei Cavalieri.
In the story set in renaissance Italy and spanning a few days and five chapters, the characters get closer to each other as well as their own feelings. The art style is inspired by the renaissance sketches and the contents and plot is the effect of the author’s historical research. The novel contains references to the drawings and paintings of Michelangelo, as well as his sonnets and correspondence. The comic was finalised as a hand-bound book publication of 116 pages.Master's thesis project realised at University of the Arts Poznań, Poland, 2023.
Below are 9 chosen spreads from the graphic novel. The whole book contains 116 pages, originally traditionally drawn with graphite and edited in Adobe Photoshop. The book layout was created using Adobe Indesign.
Comics and zines
The graphic novel Cavalieri. The Love of Michelangelo is a work of the historical fiction genre, depicting a queer interpretation of the relationship of Michelangelo and Tommaso dei Cavalieri.Master's thesis project realised at University of the Arts Poznań, Poland, 2023.
For more information see the dedicated page below:
Midnight Reverie. A Gothic Wonderland
webcomic, 60 panels, graphite and digital graphics, 2023
Chapter 1 created for a webcomic contest in 2023 (unveiled as of October 2023).
This young adult adventure story talks about the unyielding passage of time and the importance of friendships and relationships in a whimsical, unfamiliar land of Nocturna.
The Helpful Knight. Pomocny Rycerz
11 pages, graphite and digital graphics, 2023
Published for Poznań Festival of Comic Art 2023. The convention of traditional folk tales invites to a conversation about mental health and psycho-social relations.
Selfish
2 pages, digital illustration, 2023
Created for “Forestry Island” Eco Art Festival hosted in Taiwan. This silent comic transcends language barriers in order to draw focus to the health of marine ecosystems.
The Starry Knight. Gwiezdny Rycerz
10 pages, graphite and digital graphics, 2022
Published for Poznań Festival of Comic Art 2022. Inspired by word play with the title of the famous Vincent van Gogh painting - The Starry Night.
pick myself up (Ja się chyba nie pozbieram)
10 pages, graphite and digital graphics, 2021
Published for Poznań Festival of Comic Art 2021. A surreal journey to the author's mind. Overwhelmingly quiet panels and gruesome visuals of human organs form a metaphore of emotions tied to trauma recovery.
at night
20 pages, graphite and digital graphics, 2020
This debut comic is a visualisation of a nightly state of mind of the main character. His loneliness and insomnia combine and form a surreal experience of environmental transformation.
Graphic Design
Master's Thesis Exhibition
Instagram Post
Instagram Post
Facebook Event Banner
Leaflet (backside)
Graphic Novel Cover (for print)
Twitch Streamer Overlay and Visual Identification
Header (logo in collaboration with Ori Gawrońska)
Twitch Stream Overlay
Link Graphic
Changing Scenes Screen
Ending Twitter Post
Waiting Screen
Announcement Twitter Post
Home Screen
Projects realised for the student organisation "Punkt Grafiki"
Facebook Event Banner
Instagram Post
Facebook Page Banner
Promotional Sticker
Recruitment Graphic (artwork by Maria Broniewska)
Meeting Announcement Graphic
Blockcut Workshop Facebook Event Banner
"Freshman's Infographic"
Graphic Arts
at the bad ones too
blockut, 100 x 70 cm, 2022
The work is a commentary to the medieval portrayals of virtues. A Knight is as delicate and capable of sensitivity as is the innocent maiden. The dangerous Monster seeks affection as does the beautiful unicorn. Both sides deserve the others' attention and closeness, even if „the bad ones” take more time to be tamed.
Three spreads and the covers were printed in the blockut technique. They portray the mythological scenes of intimate relations of: Achilles & Patroclus, Apollo & Hyacinth, Theseus & the Minotaur. Manus comes from the Latin word for "hands", which are the leading theme of the displayed shots.
Samotność (Loneliness)
series of 5 graphics, blockut, 100 x 70 cm, 2021
An interpretation on the inner happenings of the author’s mind, inspired by the philosophy of Erich Fromm. Five monochromatic prints in black and white portray self-portraits of the artist and express his experience tied to the feeling of loneliness. The artworks function as an artistic form of self introspection and reflection, strengthened by the philosophical research, and they are a closing chapter of an artistic period.Bachelor's thesis project realised at University of the Arts Poznań, Poland, 2023.
