Meet Tricia Copeland and Matt Maes | Author and Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tricia Copeland and Matt Maes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tricia Copeland and Matt Maes, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
We’re proud to represent the story of a female hero, an exemplar for people who can relate to her experience. Azreya is born with a unique set of gifts which create a life path that’s outside of the grain of the world around her. Despite all of the hardships, she remains resolute to move through her life with undiluted eyes. She stays true to herself and finds that the very characteristics which the community around her couldn’t understand or appreciate, were the very tools of her destiny. We feel the nobility of that thrum for the ones who know they’re born for something more than the lot given by society.

Our intention is for Azreya to represent the ones who’ve experienced being outsiders and know, deep down, that as many trials as we face, we can find that source of ennoblement and strength within ourselves along the way. Azreya is for the ones who’ve felt a divergent path thrust upon us, and in many ways, have continued to choose for ourselves. We never really know where our paths may lead us, who we may become several years in the future.

Matt often likes to think about the statistical odds of us even being born, let alone the experiences in which we play a part to become who we are now. Generations stacked on generations, leading up to us, right now. Every single person who’s been born can say the exact same thing. This is one of the most grounding and empowering notions which informs the way I see humanity.

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.
Matt – I’m a Surreal Mythologist artist who blends archetypes for spiritual encounters. I create art for people who love myth and creativity just as I do. I use art as mirrors to promote self awareness and transformation. We can look to world myths to inform us of our collective human psyche, after all, these stories are a part of who we are. I thrive on being a vessel for this immense source pool of meaningfulness. The greatest reward for me is seeing the way people respond when they’ve had a real encounter and have truly been impacted. *
I’m often asked about the meaning behind the name Quantum Keyhole: Something which is quantum speaks to unlimited possibilities, and a keyhole is a way to reach into new worlds. Together this is the spirit of what I do which is twofold: 1. Producing fantastic creations which spark a compelling sense of wonder and 2. Unlocking the creative potential which you may have never dreamed possible. Teaching workshops falls into this bucket as well as Drawing Games.

Over 26 years I’ve experimented with various mediums and applications from airbrush, to tattoo design and apprenticeship, 3D modeling, and digital book illustration. My 3 favorite artistic heroes which have inspired me are Alex Grey, Salvador Dali and Frank Frazetta. Ever since drawing the cover of Mario 64 at 7 years old, I knew the moment I picked up a pencil that this is my thing. The twin threads of love for art and storytelling have intertwined with my life ever since. An abundance of trait curiosity drives me forward with the pencil and paintbrush as my swords on a journey of creativity.

Tricia – I believe in finding magic and think magic infuses every aspect of our lives,
whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, a beautiful sunset,
or a book that transports us to another world. I’m an avid runner and Georgia native living with my family and four-legged friends in Colorado.

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.
We love taking advantage of all the art and events in and around Denver. Some of our favorite places and exhibits include Meow Wolf, the Denver Art Museum, the Rino district, Redline Art Center, Spectra Art Space, and Coors Field for a Rockies’s Game. If you need a break to refuel, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs and the Gypsy House Cafe for coffee, pastries, art showings, and lunch eats are fun, inviting, and delicious stops. Need something to wet your whistle in Rino? Stop by River North Brewery Blake St. Taproom where you’ll find Matt and his art on the 1st and 3rd Thursday nights of each month with friend Zack a.k.a. dj M Dibby Love.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One of the aspects which made this project successful was the level of obsessive dedication to craftsmanship through and through. We’d like to recognize the work of Daryl McCool and Jo Michaels. Daryl was able to take the themes and overall design of the book, and translate them onto the cover, spine and wrap. She worked with us to ensure that every detail was consistent with the overall vision and in the end delivered a beautiful design. Matt often thinks of labels on wine bottles and album covers as the first thing that catches your eye, and the great ones almost unfailingly indicate prime material. To that end, Daryl was able to create a design that does justice to the illustrated story we’re proud to share.

Jo Michaels skillfully edited and formatted the interior, right down to the paw marks indicating section breaks. The font size, illustration and chapter placement, and inclusion of the original concept sketches at the back are all her handiwork.

We would be remiss not to thank Kite + Dart for making the connection between us possible. Our paths crossed through a Strangers to Superfans workshop, after which we both felt a pull towards collaboration. We met a few times and bounced ideas until one day, it dawned on us that we should create an illustrated short story.

Website: Tricia – www.triciacopeland.com, Matt – www.quantumkeyholestudio.com

Instagram: Tricia – @authortriciacopeland, Matt – @quantumkeyholestudio

Linkedin: Tricia – https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciacopelandbrzostowicz/, Matt – https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-maes-844b1a3b/

Twitter: Tricia – https://twitter.com/tcbrzostowicz

Facebook: Tricia – https://www.facebook.com/TriciaCopelandAuthor, Matt – https://www.facebook.com/mattqkstudio/

Youtube: Tricia – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBHpvjj9L3od2SLTS4zJTjA, Matt – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnbjWNTzxoz5QBEu8jtmrSQ/videos

Other: ‘Azreya, Aztec Priestess’ book: https://www.amazon.com/Azreya-Aztec-Priestess-Illustrated-Mythology-ebook/dp/B0B7883VN7 Tricia – Newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/5OvUXxI/tricacopelandauthor BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tricia-copeland Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3doJwfO Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14055439.Tricia_Copeland Matt – linktr.ee/qkstudio

Image Credits
Tricia reading and Matt watching – Helena Karchere Matt head shot – Susan Sahab Tricia head shot – Heidi Howard Zach and Tricia – Helena Karchere Azreya cover – Original by Matt Maes, finalized by Daryl McCool