Hey there--your payments are still frozen for May if you are an existing patron, but I figured we needed to sit down and just talk. As you know, I have taken this month off to focus on freelance, but with that time away came a lot of discoveries about my life, changes in career, and how all this flows into our space here. I appreciate how patient everyone has been with me taking a month to focus on my work and your continued support--you have no idea how much it means to me and helps me to ke...
2021-05-23 18:43:09 +0000 UTC
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Hey there, here's the third batch of secret little sketches for the month! I'm really excited to share this one with you because we've got a good variety of work--both projects and personal, and some process work as well. Usually there's a caption under each image as you scroll through in gallery view, but this time I decided to explain here in the text box, because there's a lot for us to talk about.
In my
2021-04-28 18:51:19 +0000 UTC
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Hey there sweet spring bud,
As you might have gathered from a couple of previous newsletter/podcasts, work (and life) has really been picking up! In my last newsletter, I outlined what jobs I am currently working on, and in my last podcast I talked specifically about the big big graphic novel project I'm knee-deep in. I also mentioned previously that I wa...
2021-04-26 12:43:00 +0000 UTC
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☀ Hey there, I hope your day is going well. It's been a little bit, or at least it feels like it has! ☀
I know this has taken a bit longer than expected, but I'm here with a studio/apartment tour (I elaborate why it took me so long to finally film this at the beginning of the video)! I also filmed this whole thing all the way through and then rewatched the footage, disliked it, and re-filmed the entire thing in another format. I hope you enjoy the final product--a lot of attention w...
2021-04-25 18:24:23 +0000 UTC
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Hey there, did you miss the panel presentation from the other day? Have no fear! Although they couldn't legally record it due to their affiliation with the school, I'm uploading everything for you to look through. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I am always a little nervous to present and in my last presentation, I felt like I did a little iffy. But thanks to the incredible hosts of the event (Illustration Student Group) at Columbia College Chicago, and ...
2021-04-19 14:36:54 +0000 UTC
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Tonight! 5-6 PM CST, I will be presenting at Columbia College Chicago's INKfest put on by the Illustration Student Group. I was invited by my lovely friend @solsticeillo who will also be my panel moderator tonight. I am presenting on what freelancing has been like, getting/having an agent, how to grow your online audience, bei...
2021-04-17 14:38:44 +0000 UTC
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This podcast is a special one because instead of purely audio, it also features my mug--if that's what you're into. Maybe I'll alternate video/audio-only, or stick purely to audio. Let me know what you think!
Today we're catching up about ARDEN HIGH, the Graphic novel series I am working on and just announced on social media yesterday! I apologize if my thoughts are a little all over the place in this video...let's attribute that to my excitement about the project...
2021-04-15 00:59:07 +0000 UTC
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Hey, you. I'm here to share some more secret little sketches. This is a small bunch and it's all screenshots of various procreate files, mostly because I I am trying to pull bits and pieces of the graphic novel I'm working on without giving away too much! The first five images are pulled from that. If you scroll through, each image has a little blurb on my thoughts while I was drawing. What do you think about what you see? 👀
In other news, a studio/apartment tour video is comin...
2021-04-10 16:07:43 +0000 UTC
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Hey sweet evergreen tree, happy first of the month! I've got a batch of sketches straight off the fire. Be careful, they are still HOT 🥵🥵🥵
Though work projects are keeping me busy, I'm happy that I still am finding the time to play in my sketchbook here and there. Enjoy this smattering of work. I'm sharing what I can from the projects I am working on.
Talk to you soon!
-JG
2021-04-01 13:10:29 +0000 UTC
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I just had a fun little time with this one, guys! I chose some things that can be found in April and displayed it in--my favorite--flatlay style. As always the file is attached below for your downloading and printing pleasure.
Please look at this when you need a reminder to have a wonderful springtime! I hope it brings you joy to have in your home. 🍃
-JG
2021-04-01 04:01:02 +0000 UTC
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I know that we are all about Autumn here in our corner of camp, but I have to admit that Spring is creeping its vines and ferns in my heart and soul. After coming from 22 years of Florida summer all-year-long (and a "spring" if you can even call it that), I'm gaining a new appreciation for each season indivi...
2021-04-01 04:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Finishing up March with this month's podcast recording! Hey! Today's campfire conversation is super laid back, and we're talking about the three projects I'm currently working on. Vague project tea is spilled. Secrets are shared. A project announcement date is mentioned.
I'm glad you're here today--please enjoy! Since spring is budding I thought it was only right to make today's intro/outo music the Stardew Valley Spring Horseradish Jam theme.
-JG
2021-03-26 14:29:01 +0000 UTC
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Hey there, uncooked marshmallow. After these sketches I hope you will feel 🔥mildly toasted🔥 because I've got some hot, fiery stuff to give you glimpses of in this batch. You can scroll through each image to see the caption associated for a quick description--but I'll elaborate here!
A few things that you're seeing are secret secret. I am allowed to show you little crumbs as long as I do not give any context for the crumbs, or sho...
2021-03-17 13:45:36 +0000 UTC
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Welcome to another casual video. 50 minutes of drawing, painting, chatting, and occasional silence with some distant music. I personally needed this decompression time, and feel the post-sketchbook calming effects. I hope your weekend is, and will continue to be wonderful. Let's kick back and relax together, for now.
Supplies used are a small Sakura Koi watercolor set, Blackwing pencil, Water brush, Mitsu-Bishi vermillion/prussian blue dual pencil, all in a Leda Art Supply sketchbook (8...
2021-03-13 19:28:12 +0000 UTC
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Hey patreonologists--Next week I'll be filming our monthly video, and I'd love to get your input on what sort of vibe we're feeling for March! I have temporarily moved away from the step-by-steps, but we can totally get back to that. Let me know what you are more curious to see.
If there's something else you'd like, let me know in the comments. I can always add more ideas to the list for future months!
-JG
2021-03-07 23:07:16 +0000 UTC
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This round of secret sketches are a real mixed bag! I've included some scanned sketchbook pages, some current book work from projects I'm working on, and for the first time, some of my partner's work. He has been visiting me these past two weeks. In between our work hours, we would go out and sketch/paint, and occasionally we'd try a collab on my ipad. He had never used an ipad/procreate before but I believe he might be fully converted after messing around with mine (sponsor me, apple). He le...
2021-03-04 16:56:29 +0000 UTC
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Something catches your eye in the local market. A peculiar looking person beckons you, their messy golden locks cluttered with sticks, crowned with sprouting fungi.
"Harvester, adorn your home with these seed packets for good fortune, but do not dare plant them, for they will wreak havoc on your garden and perhaps home if left unattended..."
You don't really understand how flowers could do such a thing. But they look pretty desperate to get these seed packets ...
2021-03-02 13:52:03 +0000 UTC
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42 minutes of answering your questions: We're talking about social media, aesthetics, book guidelines given by clients, the process of illustrating Anne, procreate, drawing prompts, textures, agents, candles, super mario! so on and so forth! Best enjoyed while drinking something warm (or alcoholic), and hey--remember to breathe. Because I, apparently, did not.
Please let me know if these answers to questions lead to any more questions!
-JG
2021-02-16 00:00:57 +0000 UTC
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Happy mid-February, here I've got a few secret pieces to share with you, fresh out the Mind-Oven!
I've just finished up my first ever fully illustrated book project in my (still very new) freelance career. Therefore, I have been on the grind finishing that up in the first half of the month. I included two crops from that, as stated in the gallery images above! When I wasn't working on that, I would try to still draw for myself (almost like a meditative cool-down). In this month's ...
2021-02-15 16:29:14 +0000 UTC
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Good morning (from this timezone)! Today I'll be posting up a batch of some very secret sketches, as well as recording this month's Campfire Conversation podcast. It'll be a very relaxed chat. I have some topics in mind, but I was wondering if anybody had any questions you'd like to be answered? It could be about anything really, whether it be about book publishing, school, life, etc. Let me know! I'd love to hear what you wanna hear. ;-)
See you soon!
-JG
P.S. Anne of...
2021-02-15 15:08:25 +0000 UTC
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This month's step-by-step video is being replaced by this rambly, personal, candid tour of a sketchbook from the spring/summer of 2018. You guys voted and chose this sketchbook (perhaps because of the mention of falling in love 👀). I think it's a good fit for February. I hope you don't mind that this is the most scatterbrained, rambling video I think I have done yet. I am speaking aloud the thoughts that I have in live-time without censoring anything! Nothing fancy, ...
2021-02-09 15:51:35 +0000 UTC
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Hello, I've been saving up some secret work to show you! This time it's a mix of everything: sketchbook scans, digital sketches, freelance work in progress, and some final work. I would say that most of my working day (5 or so hours) is consumed by trying to finish the Anne of Green Gables book. It's getting tight. And immediately after I finish that, it's immediately onto sketches for three others books. No matter what though, I do try to make time to wind down with my sketchbook or doodle s...
2021-02-02 14:44:49 +0000 UTC
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Hello travelers. Hey, I missed you.
Today we'll be chatting about the Love Month, a patron-exclusive gift exchange, how freelance booking with an agent works, looking back to a year ago when I had no idea what I was going to do, listening to our bodies, lovely smells and such, and fun funky little guys.
The year sheds it's first layer of leaves...we...
2021-02-01 05:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Harvesters, I had so much fun with this one. I did end up craving sweets nearly the whole time, and I'm sure that will last all through February (who am I kidding, that's kind of how I always feel). I hope you enjoy this month's printable, which is a return to our HARVEST COMPENDIUM series of botanical charts!
Please download the attached file to print at the highest quality. I recommend matte, satin or glossy photo paper.
-JG
2021-02-01 05:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The time has come. The time for us to sit down with the internet's coolest Doodle Demon, my good friend: Dalton Stark aka @daltondoodles! We talk about internet connections, nonlinear art careers, inspiration and routines, art style, sense of self and "looking for the good".
I really enjoyed this entire experience. Dalton is someone whose words stick with me for a long time whenever we sit down (in our virtual chairs) and have a conversation so I'm elated to sh...
2021-01-23 15:24:36 +0000 UTC
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Due to popular demand, this step-by-step video is a traditional one consisting mostly of gouache painting and a bit of digital touch up at the end. Little did I realize how out of practice I was with my traditional media! Lately I have been working away digitally for my freelance projects (quicker, easier to make big edits, and there is, of course, the undo button). Therefore, mistakes were made. Things did not go completely as planned. It might not be completely obvious, but in my mind I was...
2021-01-19 20:38:01 +0000 UTC
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Like I promised, I wanted to share bits of the Anne of Green Gables colored pages with you! This is a little visual breakdown of the star of the show (no, not Anne) : Green Gables, the house itself. I've said this before--I'm not comfortable with environments, especially not inorganic structures like buildings, so this was a learning experience for me. I'm literally learning how to do this stuff as I go (but I also feel myself getting better with practice).
The...
2021-01-13 18:04:42 +0000 UTC
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Happy January 10th (from my timezone)! I have a few more sketches to share with you. The last week has mostly been filled with working on the Anne of Green Gables book, doing some Harvest Patron species shout-outs and filming my week in the life video. I'm kind of relieved to be done with that, so I can continue to focus on patreon content and freelance projects! I'm including a couple crops from the Anne book in progress, and a couple other bits and bobs.
**As always, a s...
2021-01-10 17:47:34 +0000 UTC
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Hello, hello! This is a laid-back video where I take you through my daily routines (or lack thereof) and showcase what a very "real" week looks like for me. In August I posted a video about what my day looked like, but things have changed a lot since then ( Here is that video: https://youtu.be/xL0Y_DYHW28 ).
Since graduating from Ringling College in May 2020, moving out into a studio apartment by myself, and sta...
2021-01-07 23:27:57 +0000 UTC
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As previously mentioned, I'll be releasing these sketches in small batches throughout the month (as I do them). Here are some spreads from my sketchbook that I did throughout December. Materials used on these pages varied greatly and kept things fresh and fun for me, including:
pilot V5 pen, blackwing graphite pencil, my small koi watercolor set, midliner highlighters, posca markers and micron pens
Unlike my last few sketchbooks, this one is larger (7 x 10 in.) and I am comp...
2021-01-02 18:28:25 +0000 UTC
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