artinjest

Past Brenda is a jerk.

Early look at the comic coming out later. I sometimes find it super helpful to imagine my past, present, and future selves as these three completely autonomous beings. It’s helpful when I need to lay blame on someone for being wide awake and over caffeinated at 4am. I WISH this were an exaggeration.

Sometimes Past Brenda can do LOVELY things for Present and even Future Brenda but every once in a while she is SUCH a jerk!

Hope all of your selves are safe and healthy friends! Big...

Little sneak peek!

Hello lovely Patrons!

I'm still gathering all your books for our collective Shelf Portrait (see my previous post and send me your book picks if you haven't!) That one will be a bit of a longer creation process so expect those perks in September alongside back to school (whatever weird form that takes this year...)

In the meantime, wanted to share a little behind the scenes at the perks for August which feature all kinds of cool kids wearing masks! You know, the likes of Mr. T, Rut...

Make. Always Make.

Hello beautiful patrons,

Just posted this wee comic and wanted to pop it in here. I’ve been feeling very slow moving lately - sluggish and overheated and a little low on inspiration. My usual sources of input are pretty limited at the moment and I’ve had to remind myself to keep up my good habits and forgo my bad ones.

One of my better habits is clocking hours of practice. Doesn’t matter if I draw well, it just matters that I make marks. Sometimes it’s good, oft...

Live Painting in the Byward Market!

Hey beautiful Patrons.

Wanted to load this video for you guys here before it goes on any socials. I was delighted to have Ottawa Markets ask me to paint one of the giant Tulip Festival tulips. Every year, a bunch of local artists repaint these big ol' beauties and I had so much fun doing it.

It was also a really lovely change of pace to get to go out in the world and do some public painting - something that hasn't really been NEARLY such a big part of my summer as it normally woul...

The Mental Load of Managing Risk

It’s time for the Patron-Exclusive comic!! 

I’ve been a bit squirrelly lately. The way that we seem to be pulling out of pandemic, slowly easing restrictions and opening the world back up is so heartening. But it also constantly begs the question if I’m doing enough, taking enough precautions, being careful enough, in the hopes of avoiding the dreaded second wave. 

When I remember the actual mental gymnastics this requires, it doesn’t seem so strange that I’d b...

Remember class photos? I need your help...

Hello lovely folks.

It is SWELTERING hot in the studio these days. My heat-addled brain has been coming up with some strange ideas. One of my personal favourites has been the Self-Portrait Stack. I was looking at my bookshelf, which has been much edited in recent years. The books that I keep now are because of some special significance. They matter because of what’s in them, who gave them to me, or the time and circumstance I was in when I read them.

That said, they are still ob...

New Skill Share class! Free link for Patrons <3

A new Skill Share class has just gone up all about making comics for creativity. You don't need anything more than a pencil and paper for this one so no trip to the art supplies store required. 

This three panel comic is an exercise I use when I'm feeling creatively stuck or uninspired. You don't need any special drawing tools or abilities, and your comic can be as simple or elaborate as you like!  

If you’re not familiar, Skillshare is an online learning community wit...

the tiniest zine

I posted a comic a little while back about wasting time and the things I do that actually help me think. Fun fact, that little comic actually started out as a teensy weensy zine I made during a Creative Mornings session. 

Thought I'd share the little video here as well since you all really are the main reason I get to make comics in the first place. Have I mentioned how lovely that is?

Be well beautiful folks.

B

July downloads are here! Socially Distant Dinos

It's time it's time for desktop and phone backgrounds! These socially distant dinosaurs are here to remind us of the simple things we can do to stay safe and healthy and like...NOT contribute to the global pandemic. Cool dinos right?? As always, if you need a size or setting for a device you don't see, let me know and we'll get you sorted.

It been a strange time trying to adapt to the new half-way-open world and making the perks was a good way to process it. Huge thank you to all of you...

Sneak peek!

July perks are coming together. Get ready for Socially Distant Dinos!

Wanna send someone a little mail-art love? Let me know before July 1st if you’d like to gift your perks this month in either of the mail tiers!

Big love and stay safe!

B

Early look at the sketchbox vid!

Hello beautiful patrons! 

The June Sketchbox arrived and wanted to share the little video I made about it here before it goes out on socials. This box of supplies was a very graphite-heavy set which always makes me think of portraits.

I've been rocking out to Lizzo lately so wanted to try drawing her on the eeeeensy weensy paper they provided. Ummm portraits are hard?? Also tiny portraits are harder? I'm not happy with the likeness but the exercise was still a good one. ...

Hey. Hey! HAY!!

Wanted to share this little comic with you guys first before I put it out on socials. Just a wee reminder to myself and others to REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF DANG IT!

I will shake my fist of fury and raise my voice SO MUCH! You’re WONDERFUL!!! And deserving of care! DANG IT.

So there.

<3

B

How to comic when you can't.

Hello lovely Patrons.

I posted a little while back with the portrait I did of George Floyd but I knew I wanted to make this month's Patrons-only comic on the subject of the The Black Lives Matter movement as well. At first I just did a ton of frantic research because I felt so under informed (I was) and like there was nothing I could do (there was).

I've since started adding some regular comics back into my social media feeds, along with sharing and amplifying content from BIPOC c...

the work

Hey friends. This painting of George Floyd went up on instagram today. I'm working on a bit of a longer comic to post here just for the Patreon fam about the Black Lives Matter movement and some of the things it's already taught me but wanted to post it here too since this subject is (rightly) top of mind.  

I hadn't posted any comics over on insta just because it felt better to focus on learning. I found a bunch of new resources and accounts to follow, organizations to donate to, ...

Loose landscapes: digital downloads are here!

Happy June you wonderful Patrons. I for one am not getting nearly as much outside time as I would like so I decided to paint my way out into the world. I turned these loose landscapes into desktop and phone wallpapers that you can download from this post. As always if you need a different size or something for a specific device just let me know!

 For folks in the mail out tiers you have some postcard / mini print / sticker goodness coming your way. If you'd like to gift this months...

YOU GUYS!!

I made a Skillshare class and I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. 

If you’re not familiar, Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes on all kinds of topics. 

I made this little Intro to Gouache painting, where we make a super simple mixed media landscape. We use gouache paint, but the techniques and exercises would actually work for most types of paints if you want to try layering and landscapes. I've been working on ways to teach workshops in this s...

Here we are in May

Sketchbox time! I wanted to share this here first before it goes out on socials. I don't usually do the MerMay drawing challenge  but since the world is still so very very strange I figured I'd take a nice simple inspiration for this month's Sketchbox and not make things to complicated. It was a good decision I think. She turned out very Ariel-esque which made sense for the watercolour type theme in this months box.

Th...

Goldfinches for joy and simplicity

Hello beautiful patrons.

I've been a wee bit obsessed with Goldfinches lately. Why?? Who knows. 

Birds always, Goldfinches lately, reasons never. 

I posted this photo on socials but wanted to share a little behind the scenes here just for you folks. I looked it up after I made these paintings and it turns out Goldfinches are often a symbol of happiness or joy but also specifically simplicity. I thought was particularly fitting in this time of staying home, taking p...

Textity text text!

Hello lovely Patrons - I hope you had a lovely restful safe and healthy long weekend. Do long weekends still count as long weekends in quarantine? I mean the sunny warm weather and relatively murder-hornet free days certainly FELT like a lovely rest to me!

That said, I’ve definitely been fighting to keep my working schedule somewhat normal. I’m pretty free with my time generally (helps with creative work, at least for me) but I have to be really mindful that I’m not just sinking i...

Too little / Too much : a patrons-only comic about balance

Happy Friday beautiful Patrons.

I hope your having a socially distant, safe and healthy week. As the weather gets warmer it’s getting harder to stick to the safety precautions but I’m doing my best. I hope you are too. I post these longer form comics for patrons only because they tend to be a little more personal that the ones I put on social media. They often go a little deeper into things I’m thinking about and they’re usually a little longer to accommodate.

I’ve been ...

Oh that process part

Hello lovely patrons.

Wanted to share a little peek at those landscapes I've been working on. I loved making the video sharing the behind the scenes process of that one landscape in the centre, but I also like to show the sheer volume of trials and errors that are behind any piece.

These are just a few of the more finished little landscapes I've been making. Fun fact, your perks next month are going to be influenced by these little paintings! If you're in one of the mail tiers, yo...

Getting dressed. Differences.

Hey listen, any day my socks match is a BIG DAY. What’s gettin’ you guys out of pyjamas these days? If the answer is nothing hey that’s okay too! Your perks should be landing right about now and I hope you guys have as much fun with them as I did making them. Remember to pat yourself on the back a little more these days. We should all be a wee. It gentle with ourselves at the moment.

I wanted to share this little comic here for the Patreon fam before it goes on socials. You’re ...

OOoo we dunno what we're doing!

Hey beautiful Patrons! I am loving trying out these landscapes but man are they ever out of my comfort zone. Wanted to put up this little video over here for you folks first before it goes out on socials.

I had so much fun doing that sketchbook spread one I shared with you guys so wanted to try another. You can enjoy the combo of sped up painting and my chattering intermittently about what I'm doing (spoiler, it's a fair bit of guesswork).

No matter how long or how much I do this ...

Landscape done!

Little peek at the sketchbook spread from that landscape I was working on. Taking painters tape off the edges is definitely my favourite part.

In other news, landscapes are hard!! I’m working on another one and filing the process so we can all watch me struggle together.

Truly though, it’s been lovely to oogle pictures of outside especially when I am spending so much less time in it. These little sketches have been a lovely way to admire the outdoors.

I hope you’re al...

Pandemic Awards! 'Cuz ya gotta treat yourself y'know?

Ooooookay okay okay SO. It's getting really nice outside AND I am finding it progressively more difficult to maintain the safety precautions in place as a result. Ottawa is a city that experiences DEEP winter so when it gets nice I want to GO BE IN THE NICE. 

That said, I've been doing a lot of things to keep busy and really savour my outdoor time when I get it. That's what prompted me to create this months perks based on PANDEMIC AWARDS. I want to celebrate all the little moments ...

Owiieeee my comfort zone!

I wanted to share a little early look at the first stages of some sketchbook studies. My sketchbooks are sort of a mixed bag of more finished pieces and some cringe-y behind the scenes stuff. This little landscape is in the early stages which is always a little wonky looking but also sometimes my favourite part of a piece.

I'm all about those sketchy out of focus bits before things are really polished but I don't always share them online outside of this cozy lil' community. Thanks for b...

Life (Drawing) on Lockdown

For the moment it isn’t an option to go out into the world and just hang out and draw people and places. This is certainly the smallest of problems in the grand scheme but it’s one I needed to solve for myself nonetheless.

One of my favourite sketching options has always been people not posing or perfect but just going about their day. I pulled out the Humans of New York book and just picked a couple random pictures and sketched the people in them to warm up. Not a bad o...

Quarentine made me do it.

Okay full disclosure I did not, in fact, give myself an accidental bald patch. Also having fluffy curly hair means it’s already kind of just going in all directions so you can get away with a lot. That said, it IS very satisfying to chop off a bunch of your own hair. Maybe I shouldn’t go so far as to RECCOMEND it exactly - especially if you don’t have like a BUNCH of dead ends like I did - BUT it’s definitely one of the cheaper more thrilling ways I’ve found to pass some of the quar...

Pandemic Awards!

Happy Monday you wonderful folks!

Didn’t speak moistly this weekend did you? Oh good I’m glad. Just sharing a sneak peek of one of the sticker designs for the coming April perks.

There are so many new strange habits to get used to these days and it’s been on my mind a lot lately. More to come but in the meantime, have a safe and healthy Monday you wonderful people.

B

Oh it's happening.

Wanted to put this little gem of a moment here for Patrons only before it goes out on socials later today. 

Fun fact: I've cut my own hair many a time with varying degrees of success and it's one of the true advantages to carrying around this hairbeast. Chopping your locks can be perceived as a bold move (or a cry for help) but when you've got a mop like mine it truly is nearly repercussion free. You should see how much damage I can do with a pair of kitchen scissors before it beco...