EP #25 – Matt Gibbons | Art First, Instagram Later & Telling Stories Through Sketching
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In Episode 25 of the Wet on Wet Podcast, Sunil Kalbandi sits down with internationally recognized watercolor artist Matt Gibbons for a thoughtful and honest conversation about art, storytelling, and navigating social media as a modern artist.
Matt is a UK-based artist and illustrator known for his expressive watercolor and ink sketches, often created on location. His work focuses on documenting real life — capturing atmosphere, people, and the small details that tell bigger stories.
His journey into art didn’t begin traditionally.
Matt discovered watercolor during a trip to Lebanon, where he became fascinated by how sketching could be used to document the world in a direct and immediate way.
Coming from a background in the non-profit sector, he has worked across countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, and Taiwan — using art to illustrate real human stories, including work related to education and human rights.
What started as carrying a sketchbook during travels slowly evolved into a full-time creative career. In 2019, he left his job to pursue art seriously, focusing on on-location painting and storytelling through sketchbooks.
This episode explores not just his artistic journey — but the deeper question many artists face today:
How do you stay true to your art in a world driven by social media?
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Journey & Career
- Discovering watercolor through travel and observation
- Transitioning from a non-art background into a creative career
- Using sketchbooks to document real-world stories
- Leaving a stable job to pursue art full-time
- Building an audience through consistent sharing
Storytelling Through Art
- Using watercolor and ink as tools for visual storytelling
- Capturing everyday life, people, and atmosphere
- Drawing inspiration from travel and lived experiences
- Documenting meaningful subjects through sketching
Process & Approach
- Carrying a sketchbook everywhere and working on location
- Embracing immediacy and imperfection in watercolor
- Observing and simplifying real-world scenes
- Creating work that feels raw, honest, and expressive
Social Media & Marketing
- Following a rough plan instead of a strict content strategy
- Sharing artwork process over polished promotion
- Moving away from thinking “what will perform well online”
- Creating art first, then thinking about posting
- Using social media as a tool rather than a direction
Mindset & Growth
- Balancing creativity with visibility
- Letting go of performance pressure
- Staying connected to why you create
- Building a sustainable and authentic art practice
Advice for Artists
- Focus on observation and storytelling
- Don’t let social media dictate your work
- Carry a sketchbook and draw from life
- Share your work without depending on validation
About Matt Gibbons
Matt Gibbons is a UK-based artist and illustrator who uses watercolor and ink to tell stories from around the world.
His work blends urban sketching, documentary storytelling, and plein air painting — often capturing hidden corners and everyday moments with a strong sense of atmosphere.
With a background in the non-profit sector, his art often intersects with real-world narratives, making his work both expressive and meaningful.
Explore Matt Gibbons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattgibbonsstudio/
All Links: https://linktr.ee/mattgibbonsstudio
Website: https://mattgibbonsstudio.com/
About: https://mattgibbonsstudio.com/about
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/mattgibbons
About Wet on Wet Podcast
Hosted by Sunil Kalbandi, the Wet on Wet Podcast features conversations with world-class watercolor artists — sharing their journeys, techniques, and philosophies to help artists grow beyond just tutorials.