Brian Matthews

Brian was always an artist, and after graduating from the Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota, FL in 1987 he launched his career in art. From 1988 to 1992 he was Art Director for the South Florida Museum & Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton, where he created artwork for use in planetarium starshows and lasershows, as well as communicating to the public and media on astronomical events. It was here that he picked up the airbrush for the first time, and afterward used it for many personal and work-related projects... that is, until the computer graphics revolution took hold.

The Museum eventually eliminated the Art Director position, but Brian was fortunate enough with his network contacts to learn of a new multimedia startup at Ringling named, appropriately enough, Ringling Multimedia. He applied and was hired, spending the next seven years producing art and animation for proprietary and work-for-hire multimedia and internet projects for several well-known entities (Time-Warner, The Jane Goodall Institute, Xerox, Comcast, to name a few). It was here that he first met Gillian Bonner, whom he considers a friend and very much enjoyed lending his talents to the production of Riana Rouge. He claims that she's a babe in person as well!

During this period Brian initiated his freelance caricature business, and has drawn caricatures for numerous events and parties all over the Florida Suncoast, as well as for private commissions.

While at Ringling Multimedia Brian hit upon the idea of combining 'The Flintstones' with 'Star Trek', and with the availability of Flash he was able to realize a series of animated cartoons with a little help from some old and new friends he made along the way. You can watch 'Stone Trek' at www.stonetrek.com.

Currently Brian is seeking further employment in the art field, and in his free time works on another sci-fi related project, 'Blackstar.' He would someday like to produce animated movies, shows or mini-series - even online if necessary - of proprietary concepts and/or stories he has been involved with over the years.