Episode 70 - Matt Cornier, Feeling Swell, Syren Clothing

Matt Cornier's memory of his entire school career consists of being incessantly talked to, yelled at, and even sometimes thrown out of class for drawing. Little did they know, Matt was also getting his entrepreneurial hustle on by drawing for kids in class to earn some extra money to buy video games, toys, etc. Today Matt's art and business skills are evident in his work as Creative Director for Feeling Swell and as Co-Owner of Syren Clothing. Matt got serious about his drawing in high school and continued to sell doodles and now tattoo designs for friends as well. He earned a spot as a contributing artist in the Hurley "Walk the Walk" Challenge during his senior year and made it all the way to the finals where they flew him out to Huntington Beach for the US Surf Open to have a fashion show competition. Matt would later realize that this was the most important experience of his professional career. Matt went on to study art in college and hung around the local tattoo shops begging for an apprenticeship. When this experience didn't turn out as expected, Matt went through a dark period of doubt but emerged with a new knowledge of motorcycles and a move into graphic design. While he once viewed Computer Generated Drawing Programs sacrilegious, Matt fell in love with the medium and graduated with a fine arts degree. Today Matt is proud to make 100% of his living from art. Aside from his roles with Feeling Swell & Syren, he is the Graphic Designer / Merchandise Manager for the band Sunshine Spazz. He believes art Art saves lives and believes it truly saved his. Matt would like to remind anyone listening going though a hard time or career path of the old saying, "Do what you love for a living and you'll never feel like you're working a day in your life." In Matt's words, "Live to Die Happy." Learn more about Matt and check his design work at: www.feelingswell.org , www.SyrenClothing.com , follow @matte_corn & look for Matte Corn painting vids on youtube.