Today's Parent Magazine: Debate Illustration

Time for another Today's Parent illustration!  This one accompanied a debate about having one child or having more than one child.  I think this penguin and wood duck do a pretty good job of getting the point across.

Mindful Magazine: Issue 3

Here's the latest batch of mindful/mindless spots I illustrated for Mindful Magazine.  These were art directed by the wonderful Meg Yoshida, who is always a pleasure to work with.

Anne Thériault's Forest Commission

I'm really happy to share this new commissioned piece!  I created it for my super talented friend, Anne Thériault.  She's a writer and generally wonderful/interesting lady.  You can read her blog here.

She really liked my forest illustrations and wanted me to create something special for her business cards and website.  But she also wanted to have the framed original in the end.

The way I create my illustrations is I cut, paste and draw with pencil crayons on coloured paper pieces.  I paint the background in acrylic paint, then I figure out the final placement of the paper pieces before I paste them down.  It feels a bit like solving a puzzle or building a stage set.  And it always feels great to see it all come together in the end.

And here's Anne's framed original.  This is one of the most beautiful frame I've ever owned.  My mom found it during one of her thrifting missions.  She's the greatest at finding treasures.  This pieces measures approximately 13 3/4" x 10 1/2".

Thanks Anne, for such a great commission!

Flow Magazine

I was so thrilled to get the nature issue of Flow Magazine in the mail!  Flow Magazine is so over the top beautiful.  I only wish I could read Dutch!

My artwork, as well as a short interview, appears in this issue.  Me and five other illustrators were asked to talk about how we create art in nature and our personal connections to nature.

Below is the cover art by Leonie Bos.  So beautiful!

Mindful Magazine: Issue 2

Issue 2 of Mindful Magazine is now out!  It's chalk full of great holistic articles, as well as 10 spot illustrations I made.  I'm actually in the process of creating the next batch of spots for issue 3.

Today's Parent Magazine: Debate Illustration

Here's the latest debate illustration I made for Today's Parent Magazine.  This was art directed by Nicole Chung.  The debate was on if you should post your children's pictures on Facebook.  You can read it here.

Savary Island Tradesman

My dad has officially moved out of Vancouver and into his beautifully self-crafted cottages!  My dad has been building houses my whole life.  He worked as a draftsmen at Bush, Bohlman & Partners, but whenever he could take some time off, he was building his log cabin in Slocan Park or his ocean cottage on Savary Island.  Two of the most beautiful locations in British Columbia.

Now that he's semi-retired, and his homes are completed, he wants to keep busy and take on small building jobs around Savary Island.  Dad asked me to make him a business card for his new small business venture.  Above is the crest I illustrated for his double sided card.

Below is his gorgeous Savary Island home.  I love how he incorporated drift wood logs into the railings.  You can contact him by e-mail robjan22000@yahoo.ca

And here's a photo of the sign I painted him, I blogged about it here.  You'll know he's on the island if this sign is displayed.

I also illustrated a map of Savary Island that I blogged about here.

Today's Parent Airport Background

This is an illustration I made for Today's Parent Magazine.  It was used as a background to show a variety of cute children's luggage.  This piece was art directed by Jamie Piper.