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mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Matt 🏳️‍🌈
@mspencerdraws.bsky.social
3.7K followers 1.6K following 410 posts
He/Him || 33 || Trans & Queer ||
Freelance Illustrator, Open for 2026 Work
http://www.mspencerillustration.com/
mspencerillustration@gmail.com

Courtly Beasts Tarot wips at:
https://www.patreon.com/mspencerdraws

linktr.ee/mspencerdraws
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mspencerdraws.bsky.social
For anyone who liked my little Pride banner designs, they're up in my shop as stickers, with a few other designs and a smattering of other things!

mspencerdraws.storenvy.com
A photo of a series of stickers laid out on a green cutting mat. The stickers include two fantasy/medieval styled Progress Pride designs (one a hanging banner one a waving flag), a golden fist clutching artists tools, a black and white hand with great nails holding a brush, and a unicorn-knight.
November 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
I'm hitting go on these bad boys this *Wednesday* 11/19!
A screenshot of three sticker listings in Matthew Spencer's online shop, each with a "coming soon" banner above them. There's a unicorn knight, two different artists hands, and two different pride banners.
November 17, 2025 at 1:09 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
If you see this, post your bird art!
An illustration in watercolor depicting an anthropomorphic rooster dressed in fine Elizabethan clothing. He stands at the helm of a ship. Behind his head in a circular frame is a seascape. A large illustrated map fills the rest of the background. A watercolor painting in olive green-golds, chartreuse, orange and grey. Mist swirls around a robed anthropomorphic owl in some kind of catacomb. Roots crawl down the wall above the entryway. The owl holds a gnarled staff in one hand and a glowing orb in the other. Stone niches behind her display candles and reliquaries. The panels flanking the central image show ornately decorated bones of a deer leg on the left, and on the right, a closeup of an elk skull wrapped in pearls with a semiprecious gem in the eye socket. Knight of the Nautilus. A watercolor painting of an anthropomorphic seagull in ornate armor featuring engravings of seashells. His sword appears to have an ivory hilt- also carved with shell details. He also carries a conch shell on his belt with worked metal embellishments. He stands at the bottom of some cliffs, with waves crashing behind him and ominous thunderheads above. A watercolor painting interpreting the "Temperance" tarot card, from Matthew Spencer's in progress "Courtly Beasts Tarot". This version shows an anthropomorphic turkey vulture alchemist, pouring water between two golden chalices. He stands with one foot in a pond, and one on land the sun behind his head acts as a fiery halo. A small blue spotted salamander sits on a rock behind him.
November 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Art vs Artist
A watercolor illustration in oranges and greys. A serpent weaves through bare branches of a tree. Centered, within a frame of antlers, a black and white portrait of a bearded man with leather armor on one shoulder and a quiver on his back. A photograph of the artist at his desk. He has a (previously) shaved head and a full brown beard. He wears glasses, a septum ring, and a plaid flannel shirt. Over his head and behind him is a collection of art, pins, and a pair of antlers.
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Oh heck it's Thursday.
Finally getting around to sharing these sketches I did after listening to the first episode of #CriticalRole Campaign 4.
Tyranny and Vaelus.
(Still itching to draw Bolaire 👀)

#criticalrolefanart
A sketchbook spread with sketches in pink and blue ballpoint pen and black micron. Tyranny, (a tiefling with horns and goat ears) on the left, in pink, and Vaelus (a drow paladin wearing a chainmail veil, wielding a censer-whip) on the right in blue.
November 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Ignore the Norman Rockwell Museum sticker, that's from a couple years ago!

Plein air excursion lead by @kayshasiemens.bsky.social at @ixarts.bsky.social !
Such a nice way to spend the afternoon before returning to ART.
A photo of the artists sketchbook (in focus) featuring a watercolor painting of a lake and autumn trees, with the actual landscape (out of focus) beyond. A photo of the artists sketchbook (out of focus) featuring a watercolor painting of a lake and autumn trees, with the actual landscape (in focus) beyond.
October 24, 2025 at 3:30 AM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
*Ashwarden of the Summerswood*
(an old Every Day Original)

Most feared among the Emerald King’s court, but one of his most trusted advisors, the Ashwarden walks the woods seeking decay and corruption. He alone has the wisdom to know that sometimes, only fire can bring about new growth.
A watercolor painting depicting an anthropomorphic pronghorn ranger. He is paired with a hooded hawk who bears a burning match. Behind him, a cleansing controlled burn rages.
October 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
"The Poisoner's Revelation"
Up today on @everydayoriginal.bsky.social !

Painted in watercolor, gouache and colored pencil on 140lb Arches hot press paper. Accented with genuine gold leaf and framed.

everydayoriginal.com/product/pois...
A watercolor painting featuring an anthropomorphic skunk in black leather with full-arm gloves, holding up a vial of glowing green liquid. On his desk are various potion making components. His wall is embedded with stone tiles each displaying a poisonous plant. A photo of the aforementioned painting, framed, and displayed in dramatic light against a faux brick wall. A photo of the aforementioned painting, framed, and displayed amongst dead leaves.
October 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Call and Response is out!
(by Christopher Caldwell @seraph76.bsky.social, published by @neonhemlock.bsky.social)

To celebrate, a selection of illustrations I painted for this fantastic collection of short stories!

Get the paperback (w/ sprayed edges ooh) here: www.neonhemlock.com/books/call-a...
An interior illustration from Call and Response, a short story collection by Christopher Caldwell, published by Neon Hemlock. A black and white gouache & colored pencil illustration of two theatrical masks - one sobbing and one smiling. Over them is laid a drawing -in white line- of starlings. An interior illustration from Call and Response, a short story collection by Christopher Caldwell, published by Neon Hemlock. A black and white gouache & colored pencil illustration of a sperm whale diving. Over it is laid a drawing - in white line- of a whaling ship. An interior illustration from Call and Response, a short story collection by Christopher Caldwell, published by Neon Hemlock. A black and white gouache & colored pencil illustration of an opening magnolia blossom with bees surrounding it. Over them is laid a drawing- in white line- of a geometric cloud with wires and cables flowing from it. An interior illustration from Call and Response, a short story collection by Christopher Caldwell, published by Neon Hemlock. A black and white gouache & colored pencil illustration of a pillar of flame. Over it is laid a drawing- in white line- of a monstrance.
October 15, 2025 at 6:35 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
NEXT WEEK! I'll be at @ixarts.bsky.social in the Evening Showcase! (Friday 10/24 & Saturday 10/25 at the Reading, PA Doubletree)

Evening Showcase is free & open to the public! Main Show is Thurs thru Sunday at Goggleworks Center for the Arts.

Come see some ART!

(Photo from the 2023)
Information about IX Art Show (October 22-26 in Reading, PA) laid over one of Matthew Spencer's paintings -showing a large serpent coiling up a tree and a black and white portrait of a ranger, framed in antlers. The artist, Matthew Spencer at his table in the 2023 IX Arts Evening Showcase in Reading, PA. Photo by Dave Seeley.
October 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Hello #PortfolioDay!
I'm Matt, a queer illustrator from Michigan.

I'd love to do more:
-Book covers (and interiors!)
-TTRPG projects (items, maps, etc.)!
-DnD Character/Party Commissions 👀
-Stained Glass Style illustrations

🍂 www.mspencerdraws.com
🏹 mspencerillustration@gmail.com
‪Matt 🏳️‍🌈‬ ‪@mspencerdraws.bsky.social‬ · 1mo (3/3) And some rarely seen but still much loved (by me) black and white pieces. Chapter headers, a temporary tattoo design, and an interior full page illustration. A chapter header from A Mourning Coat. A drawing of various sewing notions in ink lines and digital washes of grey- a pincushion, scissors shaped like a cassowary, a measuring tape, buttons and various spools of thread. ALT A chapter header from North Continent Ribbon. An ink drawing of a thick tome with an ornate 8-pointed star on the cover, an elaborate lock, and a long ribbon bookmark ALT A drawing, in ink, of a snake curling over a rectangular shape filled with a drawing of a hemlock plant. Where the snake overlaps the rectangle, it is scaled, where the snake is outside the rectangle, it is skeletal. ALT From Neon Hemlock's Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness. A gouache and ink painting depicting a lonesome little house on an expansive prairie. Wind blows the grass and the very sky seems like it's pressing in on the structure. Light glows from one window. ALT 1 ‪Nellie Cubed‬ ‪@nelnelnellie.bsky.social‬ · 1mo 📚💙 2 For Legends of Avantris' Crooked Moon. A watercolor illustration depicting a stained glass window featuring a demonic feminine figure with her hands open expressively in front of her. She has horns, clawed wings and a tail that wraps around her hooved legs. Roses and thorny vines feature as motifs throughout the red-tinted image. For Legends of Avantris' Crooked Moon. A watercolor illustration depicting a stained glass window featuring a demonic feminine figure with her hands open expressively in front of her. She has horns, clawed wings and a tail that wraps around her hooved legs. Roses and thorny vines feature as motifs throughout the red-tinted image. ‪Matt 🏳️‍🌈‬ ‪@mspencerdraws.bsky.social‬ · 1mo (3/3) And some rarely seen but still much loved (by me) black and white pieces. Chapter headers, a temporary tattoo design, and an interior full page illustration. A chapter header from A Mourning Coat. A drawing of various sewing notions in ink lines and digital washes of grey- a pincushion, scissors shaped like a cassowary, a measuring tape, buttons and various spools of thread. ALT A chapter header from North Continent Ribbon. An ink drawing of a thick tome with an ornate 8-pointed star on the cover, an elaborate lock, and a long ribbon bookmark ALT A drawing, in ink, of a snake curling over a rectangular shape filled with a drawing of a hemlock plant. Where the snake overlaps the rectangle, it is scaled, where the snake is outside the rectangle, it is skeletal. ALT From Neon Hemlock's Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness. A gouache and ink painting depicting a lonesome little house on an expansive prairie. Wind blows the grass and the very sky seems like it's pressing in on the structure. Light glows from one window. ALT 1 ‪Nellie Cubed‬ ‪@nelnelnellie.bsky.social‬ · 1mo 📚💙 2 For Legends of Avantris' Crooked Moon. A watercolor illustration of a partially glazed terra cotta vessel in the shape of a frog. It is uncorked and it's swampy contents are splashing out a bit. The olive green glaze drips down over the top half of the bottle and duckweed clings. For Legends of Avantris' Crooked Moon. A watercolor illustration of a partially glazed terra cotta vessel in the shape of a frog. It is uncorked and it's swampy contents are splashing out a bit. The olive green glaze drips down over the top half of the bottle and duckweed clings. Cover art for Neon Hemlock's "We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2024". An illustration (in watercolor) of an earth-toned wild hunt tapestry with muted rainbow-y accents being looked at by a trio of rad queer people in a museum-esque framing A watercolor illustration in oranges and greys. A serpent weaves through bare branches of a tree. Centered, within a frame of antlers, a black and white portrait of a bearded man with leather armor on one shoulder and a quiver on his back.
October 14, 2025 at 1:43 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
👀
A photo of a series of stickers laid out on a green cutting mat. The stickers include two fantasy/medieval styled Progress Pride designs (one a hanging banner one a waving flag), a golden fist clutching artists tools, a black and white hand with great nails holding a brush, and a unicorn-knight.
October 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Lil WIP of this month's piece for @everydayoriginal.bsky.social
A photo of the artist's desk with a watercolor painting-in-progress. It features an anthropomorphic skunk holding up a glowing vial.
October 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Quote with your pink art 🩷
The cover art for Neon Hemlock's "Shatter the Sun: Queer Tales of Untold Adventure", an upcoming sword and sorcery anthology. A watercolor illustration in hot pinkish reds and icy blues. A powerfully built, tan and hairy trans man stands elevated on a rocky hill. He wields an almost crystalline looking black sword in two hands, looking down at his attackers, who all wield various weapons, and have blue glowing eyes. Behind him, a hot blue sun is cracking with pink light bursting from it.
October 5, 2025 at 12:09 AM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
A selection of #criticalrolefanart I've done over the years...(Mighty Nein and EXU:Calamity here)

...SINCE IT'S THURSDAY and Campaign 4 is officially starting TONIGHT!🎉
A painting in gouache of Fjord Stone of the Mighty Nein (Critical Role Campaign 2). He appears lost in contemplation, clutching the hilt of his sword. Beyond him kelp flows and water roils. A painting in watercolor of Mollymauk Tealeaf from the Mighty Nein (Critical Role Campaign 2). A glaive blade, half silhouetted in white, pierces his chest. His peacock tattoo is on full display and behind him, a circle of moons and scales. Eight circular watercolor paintings of the members of The Mighty Nein. A sketchbook spread, digitally colored, featuring Zerxus Ilerez, First Knight of Avalir, from EXU: Calamity. On the left, he flies high above the city on his celestial griffon. On the right, he stands amid smoke, with horns sprouting from his head, and the Mace of the Black Crown in his hand.
October 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Working on some stuff to turn into stickers maybe?
A photo of the artist's desk with a few potential sticker designs in the process of being painted. There are two different progress-pride inspired banners, and a few different designs of hands holding brushes/pens.
October 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
BOOK COVER ARTISTS

QRP with your book covers 📚

#BookCovers

(Three real covers, one *mock cover* because I enjoyed Between Two Fires so dang much)
Cover art for Neon Hemlock's "We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2024". A watercolor painting featuring three queer students engaging with a tapestry featuring a fae-filled Wild Hunt. Cover art for Neon Hemlock's Shatter the Sun: Queer Tales of Untold Adventure (a sword & sorcery anthology). It is a watercolor painting largely in hot pink, with luminous blue accents that features a heroic hirsute trans man desperately fending off his former friends, whose eyes glow with the blue of sorcerous influence. Book cover for THE BARBARIAN AT DREAM'S END, a tale of San, by Steve Hugh Westenra - A New Edge Sword & Sorcery Novella. The painting features a strong masculine figure with a sword climbing a rocky ridge with two allies (a radio-headed figure with wires for a torso, and a microphone headed figure with vines growing up through their cloak). Beyond the hero, a feminine figure gazes down with hands outstretched as if to grab or manipulate. Beyond even her, a young person in a t-shirt? jersey? looks over their shoulder. In the foreground, a wide view of a desert with a giant centipede with huts on its back heading towards an ominous glowing tower. A *MOCK* cover for Christopher Buehlman's "Between Two Fires". The central panel, in the shape of an arched gothic window, features a watercolor painting, mostly in reds and blues, of a disgraced knight wearing a farmer's hat, bowing his head and leaning on his sword. Behind him, a shattered stained glass window with the fires of hell and a demon with mace raised to strike the knight. Beyond the shattered pane, a tranquil landscape lit by moonlight. Surrounding the central illustration, lines of gold trace the architectural details of a smoke-filled medieval Avignon.
September 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Perfectly gloomy fall morning.
A view out the artists studio window. The sky is dark and the ground is wet as if it's been raining. The leaves beyond have only just begun to change color.
September 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
For anyone who happens to be near (or capable of *getting* to) Reading, PA in late October....I will be sharing my work at the @ixarts.bsky.social Evening Showcase!!

Please come out to see frankly some of the best fantasy work out there. It's always such a great atmosphere, and super inspiring.
Information about IX Art Show (October 22-26 in Reading, PA) laid over part of the artist's We're Here 2024 cover. Featuring a procession of queer fae in the style of a tapestry.
September 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Hello Brian! I'm not kidlit specific, but I'm absolutely happy to work for younger audiences. Here are some wintry pieces I've done!

www.mspencerillustration.com
A watercolor painting depicting a joyful wintry feast (for Windborne's To Warm the Winter Hearth) A watercolor painting depicting a caribou astronomer. The northern lights play in the background. A watercolor painting depicting a mountain goat adorned in yule decorations. Surrounded by yew and mistletoe. Album cover for Windborne's To Warm the Winter Hearth, depicting a parade of wassailers in a winter landscape approaching a warm and cozy looking house.
September 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Had the honor of painting @fyodorpavlov.bsky.social 's living-dead-girl Sorceress Vesper <3. Thank you Fyodor, she's a delight!

(Commish Info: bsky.app/profile/mspe... )
A small [3.5"x4.5"] watercolor painting of a back-from-the-dead sorceress standing in front of a blood red stained glass window. She wears a very low cut indigo gown with lacy sleeves, has pale skin with prominent bruising around the eyes and fingers and pale blue veins, and long gently waving black hair. She bears a stab wound to the heart. To her sides are subtle skeletal spectres.
September 16, 2025 at 2:46 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
Super fun inventory commission for @alchemy.rocks !!
Had an absolute blast with this one. <3

(Commish info here: bsky.app/profile/mspe...)
A watercolor painting of a commissioner's field medic/chemist/artificer character's inventory! Arranged neatly are two bags (one being a doctor's-style bag) a rifle, several potions, chocobo feathers, bok choy greens, a harmonica, a tourniquet, an earring, a crystal, and two elpis flowers.
September 15, 2025 at 1:46 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
For anyone who came to the stream know that just feet away, beyond my desk, this sleepy boy was in the studio with me.
A photo of a black Chinese crested dog nestled in a dog bed resting his chin on a fluffy duck toy.
September 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
I'm not sure! Based on a quick Google, it seems like they're at least probably quite different in color. My little friend is vivid green with a pearly white behind (not the best photo since I took it with my ancient phone).
A photo of an orchard orbweaver spider hanging upside down from its web, which is suspended amid brick and cinderblock.
September 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
mspencerdraws.bsky.social
(3/3)

And some rarely seen but still much loved (by me) black and white pieces. Chapter headers, a temporary tattoo design, and an interior full page illustration.
A chapter header from A Mourning Coat. A drawing of various sewing notions in ink lines and digital washes of grey- a pincushion, scissors shaped like a cassowary, a measuring tape, buttons and various spools of thread. A chapter header from North Continent Ribbon. An ink drawing of a thick tome with an ornate 8-pointed star on the cover, an elaborate lock, and a long ribbon bookmark A drawing, in ink, of a snake curling over a rectangular shape filled with a drawing of a hemlock plant. Where the snake overlaps the rectangle, it is scaled, where the snake is outside the rectangle, it is skeletal. From Neon Hemlock's Unfettered Hexes: Queer Tales of Insatiable Darkness. A gouache and ink painting depicting a lonesome little house on an expansive prairie. Wind blows the grass and the very sky seems like it's pressing in on the structure. Light glows from one window.
September 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM