My name is Matt Guise, and I am a professional freelance illustrator and artist based in southeast Iowa in the small rural town of Packwood. I specialize in fun, whimsical illustrations with a focus on caricature, cartooning, fantasy, and expressive character work. While much of my work leans toward stylized and humorous imagery, I am also trained in realistic illustration, including portraiture and landscapes.

I work in both traditional and digital mediums, including acrylic, ink, graphite, and digital illustration. My experience ranges from small commissioned pieces on paper or canvas to large-scale murals for buildings and public spaces.

My artistic influences come from comics and graphic novels, animation, satirical illustration, and classic caricature art. I enjoy creating artwork that celebrates people, stories, and imagination through humor, personality, and bold visual storytelling. Much of my commissioned work includes live caricatures, personalized illustrations, fantasy characters, superheroes, and imaginative environments.

With more than thirty years of artistic experience, I currently teach Visual Arts for grades five through twelve in the Pekin Community School District. I also serve on the board of the Fairfield Arts Association, where I teach the Young Artists Class at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.

I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Illustration from Iowa State University. I also studied at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and the Illinois Institute of Art before receiving my Iowa teaching certification through Buena Vista University.

Currently, I am serving as the lead design illustrator for Fairfield Youth Performing Arts’ production of Xanadu. Recently, I collaborated with a comic book writer on a project published in the inaugural issue of Lesser Known Zine. As a yearbook advisor, I also lead a team of student designers, photographers, and journalists in creating and publishing the school yearbook each year.

Before entering education full-time, I spent nearly a decade working for Trader Joe’s in the Chicago area, designing murals, hand-lettered displays, and promotional artwork. I also contributed to the visual preparation of the West Des Moines Trader Joe’s before its grand opening.

My work is often recognized for confident line work, bold values, and strong contrast through color and texture. Whether creating caricatures, murals, or fantasy illustrations, I strive to create artwork that is expressive, engaging, and memorable.

If you are interested in commissioning artwork or collaborating on a project, please contact me at 641-233-8725 or mathewguise@gmail.com.