In the internet age, sometimes, all the resources we have access to can be overwhelming. Sifting through all the resources and distilling them into useful ones for repeat viewing is a daunting task. Fortunately, I have three of my absolute favourites here today. Quality guaranteed.

I’m adamant that every illustrator should have a solid understanding of basic drawing and painting skills. Even if you do simple work, cartoony or non-realistic styles, these essentials will vastly improve your work. After all, you need to know the rules to break them. Here are ten essential skills every illustrator should practice to continually improve their craft:

Procreate is my main app for digital illustration. I love that it runs on my iPad so I can take my full suite of tools everywhere I go. It has absolutely changed the game for digital artists. I love learning new app features, some I’ve missed or some that are newly added, so I’m here to share my top five tips for enhancing your digital illustration in Procreate!

After graduating with my art degree, my first job was with a local print finishing and binding company. I’d studied letterpress printing and hand-binding in university, which seemed like a pretty good crossover. But I never expected just how much I’d learn about the real world of printing and binding! Here are the top 7 things I learned about art and illustration while working in the print industry.

You might recognize Viz Media as the incredible American company that brings manga (Japanese comics) to the West. They consistently find the best properties in Japan and translate them for the English-speaking world. But Viz Media has also started to publish original works, showing they are a force to be reckoned with in the graphic novel publishing space. Here are five graphic novels Viz Media has published that transcend the manga genre:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.