Top Five Drawn and Quarterly Comics To Blow Your Mind
Drawn and Quarterly is an incredible publisher and a behemoth. Their works are some of the most cutting-edge and stunning artistic creations on the market. Here are my top five favourite graphic novels from Drawn and Quarterly.
Top Five First Second Comics to Get Cozy With
First Second Books is a comic publisher based in New York that publishes graphic novels in all genres and for all ages. First Second is great for publishing cozy and uplifting stories, and t these five favourites I’m highlighting on the blog today are no exception.
Top 5 Image Comics You Need to Read Right Now
If you’re interested in making comics, you also need to read comics. It’s the best way to learn about the medium, what publishers are looking for, and how to tell a good story in the comic format. This week on the blog, I will introduce you to some of my favourite comics by my favourite publishers. Starting with my number one: Image Comics.
Art News 002: Foodways at the Richmond Art Gallery
I had the privilege of attending the opening of the exhibition Foodways at the Richmond Art Gallery. This stunning exhibition is about the techniques, histories, and social interactions surrounding food. It will be on display at the RAG from Oct. 19 to Dec. 31, 2024.
Six Tips for Photographing Work for Your Art School Portfolio
When putting together your art school portfolio, you must showcase your best work in the best way possible. And now that almost everyone has a smartphone with a great camera in their pocket, there are fewer excuses than ever to have bad photography in your portfolio. Here are the six top tips for photographing work for your portfolio.
5 Ways to Make Your Art School Portfolio More Conceptual
One big difference between art at the secondary level vs art at the post-secondary level is the focus on conceptual development. Sometimes, our art is just for practicing technical skills or creating something fun. But if you’re considering art school, and especially in your application portfolio, you should consider the conceptual development of your work more often than not. Here are five ways you can make your art school portfolio more conceptual.
5 Unofficial Rules of Receiving a USEFUL Art School Portfolio Review
I tabled at National Portfolio Day a handful of times, representing my alma mater, Emily Carr University. And I have some secrets to reveal about the experience! Part of the success of your portfolio review is dependent on YOU and how you allow the session to unfold. So here are five unofficial rules to ensure you receive a useful art school portfolio review at NPD or elsewhere.
Ten Things to Avoid in Your Art School Portfolio
To continue Portfolio Prep Week here on the blog, today I’ll be tackling the difficult challenge of things you should avoid in your art school portfolio. So, without further ado, here are ten things you should avoid in your art school portfolio.
5 Things Your Art School Portfolio Should Say About You
It’s Portfolio Prep Week here on the blog! Your portfolio is like an artistic introduction to the faculty of your dream school and should tell them exactly why you are a perfect fit for their school. Here are five things your art school portfolio should say about you.
7 Tools for Drawing Perspective Without a Ruler
I’m a huge advocate for learning perspective tools like one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective. These are useful for any type of artist, especially comic book artists and illustrators. But did you know you can use several perspective tools without needing to grab a ruler? Once you notice these seven perspective tools, I guarantee your perspective drawings will immediately improve— no ruler needed!
5 Tips to Start a Daily Drawing Practice
I draw every single day, or as close to it as you can get, while allowing for the chaos of life. For me, drawing every day is as natural as eating every day. I promise you that once you get in the flow of it, you’ll be able to maintain your own daily drawing practice in no time! Here are some tips to get you started.
Ten Japanese Illustrators You Should Know
I’m a massive fan of Japanese illustration, partially because it’s an art form taken seriously there! Every time I make a trip, I find a new Japanese illustrator to admire, and I always return home with a suitcase full of art books. If you’re curious about this incredible illustration environment, here are ten Japanese illustrators I think you should know about.
Meet the Art Coach!
If you’re on the fence about whether or not I’d make a good match as your art coach, read on to learn more about my practice, education philosophy, and art journey!
Ten Tips to Get Started with Gesture Drawing
Gesture drawing is a great way to warm up before an art session while, at the same time, you build your visual vocabulary and dynamic drawing skills. If you’re new to this practice, don’t sweat! These ten tips will help you work gesture drawing into your art practice.
Nouns + Adjectives - a Silly Illustration Game to Spark Inspiration
When I teach classes, I often have a HUGE range of skill levels among my students. That means I need warm-up activities and creativity-boosting games that people of all skill levels can participate in! And this game, appropriately named Nouns + Adjectives, is one of my favourites.
Five Ways to Boost Your Creativity
Creativity is a learned skill. Say that louder for the people in the back! Creativity is a learned skill. Don’t beat yourself up if you have trouble with creativity in your art or writing practice or even struggle to have an art or writing practice! Here are a few tried and true methods that can help you stretch your brain and boost your creativity.
How I Make Comic Panels in Procreate
I love Procreate. Having it on my iPad was a game changer, enabling me to make the art I dreamt of from anywhere. But if there’s one area Procreate is lacking, it’s comic-making tools. But just because comic making in Procreate is less intuitive than, say, Clip Studio Paint, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And it all starts with easy panelling. This is my process for quickly and easily making panels in Procreate.
OC-tober 2024, a Month of Art Prompts
Creating original characters (OCs) is one of my absolute favourite things. And as October is the month of art prompts (thanks to the invention of Inktober back in 2009), I thought I’d create my own list of prompts.
Three Comic Book Art Styles You Might Not Know
If you’re new to reading or making comics, you may be unaware of the massive variety of styles you can find in this medium. My students often worry that they may not be skilled enough at realistic representation or superhero comic exaggeration to make comics. But not all comics look alike, and, in fact, the most exciting ones often look little like what you’d expect if you still think of comics as synonymous with superheroes!
Five Questions to Ask an Art Coach
The first session with an art coach is important as it can help assess whether the partnership will be a good fit. Don’t be shy to ask questions! Check out these five questions you might want to ask your art coach when you start working together.