artinjest

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN WHYYYY

Is this just me? Sometimes shaving my head seems like a glorious option but HairBeast is practically my side kick. The physics involved in this comic are perhaps slightly exaggerated BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU’D THINK!

Happy Sunday Patrons. I hope you’re all soaking in the summer and not worrying about weird hair problems like I am. I wanted to share this first look with you wonderful folks. Thank you all for making it possible for me to make comics that depict the outrageous...

Only in Hintonburg

Ohhhh Patrons. I knew the second I saw this that it was going to be a comic.

This happened outside a barbershop the other day and I’ve never loved my neighbourhood more.

Thank you all for supporting me and making it possible to draw these little stories for you all. You’re wonderful. Go enjoy the sunshine!

Brenda

Early peek at the June Sketchbox video

This month's Sketchbox was all about watercolour and I wanted to share it with you before it hits the socials. This was such a nice refreshing break from some of the more deadline-y commission-y type stuff which I'm so grateful for can sometimes feels a little more confined. The little aquaboard they included was a new thing for me and the size just seemed purpose built for a little grandfather clock. I loved working on this little painting and getting some supplies to work with is always suc...

Oh GOOD mascara YES that is PERFECT.

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE PRETTY BUT ALSO SOMETIMES SMUSH OUR OWN FACES???

I demand answers from the beauty community. There are beautiful poreless beauty gurus all over the internet making me question my own sanity so naturally, I made a comic about it. This is why I don’t wear mascara (or makeup) much at all.

Tell me. Is there some witchcraft I’m missing? How does this? What are it?? Please to explain.

Enjoy this little early peek at the bonus comic before i...

June is heeeeeere!

Sweet sweet summer (sort of!) Happy June you beautiful people! I am so delighted with this month's designs all inspired by XTech: Fossils from the Xennial Age. The June perks are on their way and I hope you love them as much as I do!

The XTech show is up now at Purple Urchin on 755 Bank Street and will be on display for the month of June. In case you missed it, here's a wee bit about the show, the pieces, and the retro tech nostalgia that inspired them: 2019-06-01 10:01:02 +0000 UTC View Post

Bonus comic: All hours

Ooooo patrons do I ever lover coffee. Now that warmer weather is finally here, it’s opened up a whole slew of iced coffee beverages that I have no business drinking at 6pm.

This just means I’m up at 4am.

Which means I’m tired at 7am.

Which means more coffee all day.

WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO END TO THIS DELICIOUS CAFFEINE-FEULED CYCLE.

Sigh. Thanks for always giving me the outlet for my weird little cycles. I’m off to get a cold brew. You?

B

A Stegosaurus named Perwinkle

May Sketchbox was filled with all sorts of lovely lettering-type tools. So...naturally I drew a dinosaur?? NO ONE IS THE BOSS OF ME.

Trying out materials is so very helpful - even if the stupid white brush pen DID deceive and infuriate me for a solid five minutes. We worked through it and unfamiliar supplies is one of the best ways to get "unstuck" creatively. What do you do when you're feeling stuck? Let me know!

May you be as proudly purply as Periwinkle the Dinosaur you beautif...

XTech: Fossils from the Xennial Age

Show alert! I have a series of acrylic paintings and digital prints going up at Purple Urchin next month! I'm super excited because a) their space is awesome and b) these were so much fun to make!

As always, wanted to give you patrons a sneak peek. This show is inspired by technology that was around when I was a kid and has since become obsolete. XTech is a nod to the micro generation called "xennials" that were the last to enjoy an analogue childhood while being immersed in a digital a...

What's a Community Engaged Artist?

Hey beautiful people! 

Did you even know I had a job title? It's true! I had so much fun doing this project with the City of Ottawa's Young at Art program. It gave me the chance to bring together three very different vernissages into one finished piece using three very different set ups to engage with attendees. 

This is a little video about the activations I had set up at each event, and how I brought them together. Huge thank you to YOU wonderful patrons for making it ...

Wait a minute...

I didn't BECOME an artist. I just always was and got distracted periodically. I finger painted with reckless abandon. I aggressively demanded to be showcased on the fridge. I studied art through school and even got a degree all in art art art. 

And then?

I got a "good" job. Wait what? Yeah exactly. I didn't know that art could BE a job, let alone a good one. The only examples I had were the rare and gifted few who were showing in big galleries and I had no idea how to go abou...

Sneak peek at an upcoming comic.

Okay so I’ve never ACTUALLY found a squirrel in my hair. But some days I go so long without noticing a paintbrush in there that I start to think that might be the inevitable next step.

Wanted to share a little early look at this comic with you beautiful people . Y’know. Before I loose a whole sketchbook inside the HairBeast. 😉

Thank you all for coming along on this funny little journey of mine! Mighty glad to have ya!

Toddler friendship = soul staring

I went to the park with my niece recently and was fascinated to learn that babies and toddlers have their own unique way of making friends. This might involve giving of toys or grabbing of faces, but primarily they stand silently and stare into one another’s souls for as long as it takes to determine “friendship.” I made this little comic that will go up later on socials but I wanted to share it with you beautiful folks first!

While this toddler-friendship weirded me right out, it...

Hurray for May!

Spring is here! Right??? Right. (It might snow in Ottawa today. I refuse to accept this.)

To bring on the spring, the P'tit Tweets are here! These little song birds are making their way in sticker and print form to all the mailable patron tiers and they're here for your desktop and phone background needs. Want a size or format you don't see? Send me a note and we'll sort it out!

These desktop and phone wallpapers were made from original watercolours I did recently to help me feel ...

Sneak Peek! The year I turned 33

This little comic will go up on socials but wanted to share an early look with you beautiful patrons.

I like to say that the year I turned 33, the universe changed one thing and then I changed pretty much everything else. 

This came to mind when I saw a picture of myself in that "before" time with a blowout and a manicure and a VERY different set of priorities. I feel a lot of compassion for that Brenda. She was just workin' it out you know?

Speaking of working it out. ...

HairBeast can smell fear.

If you wish to tame the HairBeast, you cannot fear it. You must first become one with the HairBeast. Only then will it be tamed.

“Tamed”.

*bows*

Bonus Comic: Easter Bunny Job Interviews

It’s the Easter long weekend and while I don’t actually celebrate Easter I DO spend time wondering how on EARTH holidays get to their final forms. This one is a particularly weird one and I think little Easter Bun agrees with me.

Whatever you celebrate, I hope it brings you as much joy as I got from drawing this silly comic.

Thank you patrons for making it possible to keep drawing all these ridiculous notions of mine!

B

Coming soon...

Working on a little Easter comic starring a certain Bun who has been SUCH fun to draw. When I make comics, there are often pages and pages of “character” prototypes before I find the one that fits. This is just a few manifestations while I practice how to Bun. Happy Tuesday you beautiful people!

Brenda

Comic Time: Spring has Sprung!

Woooooooo it's finally HERE! I live in Ottawa and lemme tell ya, sometimes it's a LOOONG haul through winter. When it finally does get here it's a bit of a false start for a while. Saturday? Gorgeous and sunny. Sunday? Might be hailing sideways! But even if it's a bit extreme weather wise, the whole city of Ottawa comes alive in warm weather. As do I. Clearly. 

Happy April you wonderful patrons. I hope you get to spring into the warmer weather with reckless abandon! I also can't wa...

Sneak peeks of petit tweets

Hello Patrons!

I’m told spring is here. It’s snowing sideways in Ottawa as recently as yesterday so I’m a bit disbelieving.

To sooth my winter fatigue I’ve been painting little birds. Hint: these little loves just might appear in the next round of perks! Something to consider if you’re considering gifting your perks for May.

Warmest sunniest springiest thank you to all of you patrons for making it possible to do the work I love! Petit Tweet and I appreciate it enor...

And so Bear and Fox danced looong into the night.

Happy April you beautiful folks! Can't wait for you to get your mailable goodies. SPEAKING of mailables, my Sketchbox arrived! This month was all about acrylic paints and so thought I'd take these two little characters to canvas.

Thank you Patrons, for making it possible to try supplies, test ideas, make work, make mess, make mistakes. These are essential risks for creatives and YOU are a huge part of why those risks are possible.

Enjoy the little video. It will go up on socials t...

April perks are on their way!

Hello Patrons! Happy April and (sort of?) spring! This month's perks are inspired by all of YOU stars, shooting stars, super novas and hypers novas. Enjoy the desktop and phone wallpapers and keep an eye on your mailboxes for the monthly perks!

If you're in the mailable tiers, a reminder that you can start a perk piggy bank or gift your perks any time you like. Spread that artsy love friends! 

I had so much fun turning these tiers into wee watercolours and creating some fun m...

Theory of Evolution

I made this little comic because I was thinking about comfort zones. It is SO very uncomfortable to move from materials you’re familiar with to larger scale or less familiar territory but it is so very worth it.

I like to think of Darwin’s theory of evolution and that the first time I try something new and it goes terribly, it’s just this outrageous characteristic that’s actually going to serve me so well down the road.

Thank you patrons for making it possible ...

You are galaxy-sized awesome.

Hey Patrons! 

I've been doing a ton of work with mixed media lately and I decided to give the tier images a little revamp. I love the "progressively more hysteric Brenda" images but wanted to change it up to something more hyper coloured. The tiers now show you beautiful stars, shooting stars, super novas and hyper novas in all your resplendent glory. Bonus points that THESE won't potentially implode a galaxy! Science!

If you're in the SuperNova or HyperNova tier and you were...

Zine?

What do you think folks? Should there be a little mini comic or longer journal comic in our future? I've been thinking about making a little zine recently but curious what your thoughts are. Enjoy the March comic and let me know what you think in the comments! 

Thanks for your input folks! 

B

Music: "Monings" Pryces x Jef x Tolan https://soundcloud.com/pryced/p...

The world deserves your creativity.

Comic time! I love eavesdropping you guys. Listening in on the conversations of strangers is one of my greatest joys. This little overheard pearl of wisdom has to be one of my favourites recently.

Whatever you’re making, or wanting to make, or started making but stopped because it was hard or frustrating or didn’t turn out the way you wanted, let this fabulous kiddo’s confidence rub off on you and go joyfully make some stuff. Doesn’t have to be a drawing. You could be making a s...

March Sketchbox is here! So is BearBerry

Why did I draw a bear cub with a berry body? Well little BearBerry was just waiting to be drawn you see. When the March Sketchbox arrived, I knew I wanted to do something with all those purply-pink watercolour pencils and little BearBerry just made sense.

This little time lapse will go up on socials later but wanted to share with you beautiful folks first.

All of your March perks have gone out and I do hope you enjoy them! I certainly had a wonderful time making them for you.

“Good with kids”

I mean sure. We want to talk about all the same things and also I usually totally dig their outfits. Plus I’m never going to sleep again never EVER.

I love graphic novels except for that THEY ARE ALWAYS OVER.

Ohhhh patrons. I love comics. I love reading them and I love making them. My only complaint is that they are over so quickly. My favourite graphic novelist Lucy Knisley wrote a new book. I love her stuff so much that I preordered it ages ago. When it came I was so pumped so I sat down and read the whole thing in one shot AND NOW THERE IS NO MORE TO READ.

Tragic right? Sighhhh.

BUT ALSO have you seen the new video? There are new ways to perk! Gift perks! Save...

So many perks! So many ways!

Hello wonderful folks! A little video to share some new options for your perks. If you're in the SuperNova or the Hyper Nova tier and you receive monthly goodies, you have two new options!

GIFT your perks! Know someone who needs a pick me up? Going to be out of town next month? You can send me a note and ask that your perks be sent to someone on your behalf. All I need is a new mailing address and any special instructions. Want me to write a cheeky note on your behalf? You got it! Gift ...

Happy (early!) International Women's Day

Hello Patrons!

This will go out on socials later today, but as always, wanted to give you the first look at the print I'll be selling for International Women's Day this year.

The Lift Each Other Up print is available now on artinjest.com in 8x10" ($22) or 5x7" ($12). Half of the profit from these sales will go to Harmony House, the only second stage women's shelter in Ottawa Canada. To learn more about the incredible work they do, check out their site here:  2019-03-01 16:20:59 +0000 UTC View Post