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My Lonely Robots Experiencing The Quiet Wonder Of The World

I don’t recall where the idea to paint these robots came from but since the first that I painted, back in 2006, I’ve been fascinated by them and the world they inhabit.

My name is Matt Dixon. I’m a busy freelance illustrator working in the games industry. When I’m not painting angry goblins or weird alien slugs, you might think that I’d like to get away from the computer but no. When it’s time to relax, nothing soothes my mind and calms my nerves like retreating into the world of my robots.

There’s something very restful about losing myself in these paintings. They’re rarely planned. When I’m in the mood, I just sit down and they just seem to happen. That’s partly why I named my first book collecting this artwork ‘Transmissions’ as the images ometimes feel as if they’ve been transmitted into my brain from somewhere else!

More rewarding than the painting process itself is experiencing the reaction that these paintings attract. Some of them conjure the most wonderful responses and emotions, often quite unlike that which I had planned. People often describe them as sad. I don’t really see them that way. Melancholy perhaps. Maybe they’re lost, but I see them trying to make sense of the quiet wonder around them. I think that’s something we can all relate to. A campaign for a second collection of robot art is underway.

More info: mattdixon.co.uk | Kickstarter

My Lonely Robots Experiencing The Quiet Wonder Of The World

72Kviews

I'm an illustrator working in the games industry. I like to make pictures of robots.

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I'm an illustrator working in the games industry. I like to make pictures of robots.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

LeslieNeal 9 years ago

These paintings would be great story starters, especially for kids. If you have a kid, try sitting down with them and looking at these one at a time, and let your child come up with a backstory that led the robot to that scene. I do that with my little niece in art museums, but it would be much easier and more fun to do with these robots.

17points

JeanneDeaux 9 years ago

These paintings are gorgeous but it's so sad that they are lonely. Give them a friend like a bunny or a squirrel!!! (or I'll cry my eyes out T_T)

12points

GregOsborne 9 years ago

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DandelionWine 9 years ago

I'm in lo ve with your robots. They're adorable. I would like to sit with them and contemplate the world around us.

7points

AndyWoodhouse 9 years ago

Fantastic stuff - love it

1point

LindaMaj 9 years ago

very beautiful and emotional at a time

1point

dianadanieletto 9 years ago

lovely.

1point

NemcyCruz 9 years ago

Your works are so wonderful and inspiring! Now I have 2 wishes: 1) Join your robot and 2) shut myself from the world to draw and paint too.

1point

BGoogKata 9 years ago

I like this idea.

1point

bon bon (still purple boi) 3 years ago

wow

0points

Virginia Allain 6 years ago

Please have someone write a story to go with your photos or write one yourself. I think it would be an award-winning children's book. Trust me, I was a librarian for 30 years.

0points

Kenesa Wilcox 6 years ago

Your paintings struck me with such a strong childhood nostalgia and gave me a heavy sense of peace. Thank you for giving your art to the world.

0points

Johanna-Nicollette Kidd 7 years ago

I think your work is awesome, thank you for sharing! Those robots make me think that really we dont have to worry about technology taking away our jobs cos Robots arent quite so scary any more!

0points

Roos 7 years ago

Love them!

0points

Shiritoru 7 years ago

Amazing work!! Thank you for sharing.

0points

Anna Linnaeus 8 years ago

They are totally awesome, I love them!

0points

Silvano Enzo 8 years ago

Human!

0points

GigiPena 8 years ago

I love this!!! They are so good and so cute!!

0points

KaRicardezCancino 8 years ago

Hermosas

0points

CassidyHoward 8 years ago

It's like a miniature Iron Giant

0points

MarshaWood 8 years ago

Love these! Extremely charming robots. Could be interesting to do a series where a couple of lonely robots meet. Evolve into not lonely robots. For a romantic whimsical robot. I love them anyway. Beautiful.

0points

AndreaFejtkova 8 years ago

It is very similar to Machinarium - czech PC gamehttp://machinarium.net/cz/

0points

MichaelGardner 8 years ago

I can remind Mr. Dixon where he got the idea. His name is Brian Despain and he owns Imphead.com. He has been publishing his robot paintings in Spectrum since 2000. Matt Dixon's work is very nice, and he has every right to enjoy the fruits of his labor, but I think he should give credit where it is due.

0points

MorganBrewington 8 years ago

I don't see them as sad or lonely either. Some have roles they're playing like the one on the roof with all the antennas. Some are just "start gazing" and loosing themselves in wonderland. I Think these are wonderful and beautiful. I love quirky art like this. Keep drawing these guys! They're absolutely wonderful!

0points

SandyFantasyatelier 8 years ago

Love it

0points

JulieObermiller 8 years ago

I am enchanted! These robots are so eloquent in their silence! Would love to see MORE...many more!! They are a bit sad, but perhaps there are some "creature" comforts in their future. Beautiful job! <3

0points

NemcyCruz 8 years ago

Hope someday your robot and my elephants would meet ;) But my drawings are mostly using pens. Not brave enough to be colored yet >_<

0points

NemcyCruz 8 years ago

Hi, Matt. Can't help but be inspired with your work. Did one drawing using ballpen. Here it is: https://instagram.com/p/BBPvBhYqfe8/ ^_^

0points

impsandthings 9 years ago

Very beautiful paintings.

0points

theSilverShadow 9 years ago

I think this art is fantastic! Definitely Mat Dixon loves his work.

0points

TerryGrigg 9 years ago

Metal robots are far superior to meat robots.

0points

DebbieReynolds 9 years ago

Does anyone else see the next Pixar movie developing from these? Great job! You are so talented!

0points

AnnaCherieHanson 9 years ago

Would you ever consider writing a story with some of these as illusions?

0points

ThomasLangdon 9 years ago

Beautiful, the all look so lonely yet optimistically desperate to join in

0points

JohnnySlapstick 9 years ago

I know exactly where this guy got the idea for these. From Brian Despain, who has been painting robots like these since the late 90s. http://despainart.com They are even painted in a similar style. This guy could at least acknowledge the influence.

0points

Virginia Llorca 8 years ago

See also: Goro Fujita Nothing new under the sun.

0points

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RachaelMeadows 9 years ago

I would love a print of one of these for my son's room.

0points

SimonaNaydenova 9 years ago

Hi Matt, great job, these pictures are beautiful. Keep up with the good work :)

0points

МадленНанева 9 years ago

I don't think these paintings are sad at all. There are just robots contemplating. What is sad about that? I mean, I love doing this from time to time - just go to the park for a walk or even sit in front of the computer listening to good music and watching some canvases of my favorite painters...

0points

LeahCim 9 years ago

Beautiful work!

0points

MissyMelissa 9 years ago

OMG, that is me as a child, wow, thank you x

0points

ChloeSimmons 9 years ago

Hi Matt, Beautiful images, a little depressing, but beautiful none the less. Matt, can I please ask you a random technical question? How did you add follow links in your content? I can only add no-follow links? Many thanks

0points

NadavBarKama 9 years ago

love it, love it, love it ...

0points

KwihuiHalliday 9 years ago

Excellent! Have none of the proper adjectives to do justice. I think that it will make a Fantastic Children's book. No words necessary. A book to discuss the emotions that children experience from these illustrations.

0points

ThomasNorris 9 years ago

Way cool!! should publish a book call it "contemplations.

0points

tiagoobin 9 years ago

I'm in love with them <3

0points

KimberlyRobb 9 years ago

I love them!! Beautiful.

0points

DanielL.(Rhialto) 9 years ago

You must have been inspired by Machinarium, or is it the other way around? You MUST play that game if you haven't. REALLY. BTW Kudos, really beautiful drawings, there's a feeling in each one.

0points

Kleiner 9 years ago

Great!

0points

Katsuri 9 years ago

It reminds me anime "clannad" haha

0points

NorwegianTravelers 9 years ago

Beautiful drawings :)

0points

POST

LeslieNeal 9 years ago

17points

JeanneDeaux 9 years ago

These paintings are gorgeous but it's so sad that they are lonely. Give them a friend like a bunny or a squirrel!!! (or I'll cry my eyes out T_T)

12points

GregOsborne 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Load More Replies...

DandelionWine 9 years ago

I'm in lo ve with your robots. They're adorable. I would like to sit with them and contemplate the world around us.

7points

AndyWoodhouse 9 years ago

Fantastic stuff - love it

1point

LindaMaj 9 years ago

very beautiful and emotional at a time

1point

dianadanieletto 9 years ago

lovely.

1point

NemcyCruz 9 years ago

Your works are so wonderful and inspiring! Now I have 2 wishes: 1) Join your robot and 2) shut myself from the world to draw and paint too.

1point

BGoogKata 9 years ago

I like this idea.

1point

bon bon (still purple boi) 3 years ago

wow

0points

Virginia Allain 6 years ago

Please have someone write a story to go with your photos or write one yourself. I think it would be an award-winning children's book. Trust me, I was a librarian for 30 years.

0points

Kenesa Wilcox 6 years ago

Your paintings struck me with such a strong childhood nostalgia and gave me a heavy sense of peace. Thank you for giving your art to the world.

0points

Johanna-Nicollette Kidd 7 years ago

I think your work is awesome, thank you for sharing! Those robots make me think that really we dont have to worry about technology taking away our jobs cos Robots arent quite so scary any more!

0points

Roos 7 years ago

Love them!

0points

Shiritoru 7 years ago

Amazing work!! Thank you for sharing.

0points

Anna Linnaeus 8 years ago

They are totally awesome, I love them!

0points

Silvano Enzo 8 years ago

Human!

0points

GigiPena 8 years ago

I love this!!! They are so good and so cute!!

0points

KaRicardezCancino 8 years ago

Hermosas

0points

CassidyHoward 8 years ago

It's like a miniature Iron Giant

0points

MarshaWood 8 years ago

0points

AndreaFejtkova 8 years ago

It is very similar to Machinarium - czech PC gamehttp://machinarium.net/cz/

0points

MichaelGardner 8 years ago

0points

MorganBrewington 8 years ago

0points

SandyFantasyatelier 8 years ago

Love it

0points

JulieObermiller 8 years ago

0points

NemcyCruz 8 years ago

Hope someday your robot and my elephants would meet ;) But my drawings are mostly using pens. Not brave enough to be colored yet >_<

0points

NemcyCruz 8 years ago

Hi, Matt. Can't help but be inspired with your work. Did one drawing using ballpen. Here it is: https://instagram.com/p/BBPvBhYqfe8/ ^_^

0points

impsandthings 9 years ago

Very beautiful paintings.

0points

theSilverShadow 9 years ago

I think this art is fantastic! Definitely Mat Dixon loves his work.

0points

TerryGrigg 9 years ago

Metal robots are far superior to meat robots.

0points

DebbieReynolds 9 years ago

Does anyone else see the next Pixar movie developing from these? Great job! You are so talented!

0points

AnnaCherieHanson 9 years ago

Would you ever consider writing a story with some of these as illusions?

0points

ThomasLangdon 9 years ago

Beautiful, the all look so lonely yet optimistically desperate to join in

0points

JohnnySlapstick 9 years ago

0points

Virginia Llorca 8 years ago

See also: Goro Fujita Nothing new under the sun.

0points

Load More Replies...

RachaelMeadows 9 years ago

I would love a print of one of these for my son's room.

0points

SimonaNaydenova 9 years ago

Hi Matt, great job, these pictures are beautiful. Keep up with the good work :)

0points

МадленНанева 9 years ago

0points

LeahCim 9 years ago

Beautiful work!

0points

MissyMelissa 9 years ago

OMG, that is me as a child, wow, thank you x

0points

ChloeSimmons 9 years ago

0points

NadavBarKama 9 years ago

love it, love it, love it ...

0points

KwihuiHalliday 9 years ago

0points

ThomasNorris 9 years ago

Way cool!! should publish a book call it "contemplations.

0points

tiagoobin 9 years ago

I'm in love with them <3

0points

KimberlyRobb 9 years ago

I love them!! Beautiful.

0points

DanielL.(Rhialto) 9 years ago

You must have been inspired by Machinarium, or is it the other way around? You MUST play that game if you haven't. REALLY. BTW Kudos, really beautiful drawings, there's a feeling in each one.

0points

Kleiner 9 years ago

Great!

0points

Katsuri 9 years ago

It reminds me anime "clannad" haha

0points

NorwegianTravelers 9 years ago

Beautiful drawings :)

0points

My Lonely Robots Experiencing The Quiet Wonder Of The World

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