Macleans' Latest

Here's my latest for Macleans! This fellow was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. He grew up during the Depression and picked blueberries to can for his family. He met his sweetheart in the 60s -- she with a beehive hairdo, he with an Elvis pompadour. Much later, when the couple was caring for ten grandchildren, he would make them porridge and toast every morning before school. And even later than that, he'd take his beloved wife to bingo every day. 

I always jump at the chance to illustrate food. I'm fascinated by what people eat and why they eat it. I have the official Game of Thrones cookbook. My personal work often centres around food. I'm a little obsessed!

iPad version:

Sketch:

 This one ended up very close to my original sketch. This isn't always the case :P.

-- Julia
Portfolio site

Renovated Conservatory

Click the image to see as intended and not moire'd weirdness!

After I drew up a floor plan for my mystery house, I realized the conservatory as I had it wasn't going to work. I flipped the room around and redid the whole thing. Kept the comfy couch, side table, garbage can, and lamp. Waste not want not -- Furniture isn't cheap!

I'm happy I was able to do a contrasting-tile floor for the conservatory. A childhood of staring at my sister's Clue board game taught me that conservatories have tiled floors. 

I'm also pleased do to some moodier lighting. I might dial up the moodiness in some of the other rooms. Gives a nice, eerie ambience :). 

The old conservatory:

I enjoy the "Le Chat Noir" poster. Hopefully I can squeeze it into another room! It's hard to stop tinkering with all the rooms and improve them as I get better at this type of art. Onwards and upwards!

-- Julia

Portfolio site

Latest Macleans illo on newsstands!

I'm not sure how I would do these illustrations if I didn't have access to the wondrous internet! I try to do as much research as possible to get visual references for places and things that are mentioned in the articles. 

For example, the fellow who was in this frame met his future wife at the Millionaire Drive Inn. I was able to find a picture of its iconic sign (the classy waiter/chef with the frosty mug and burger) and include it in the illo! Another subject was an author and I found the cover art for some of her older, less known works and incorporated those into the frame. And for a young track star, I went to the Nike website and found the shoes she was wearing in her photo. 

The spot illustration for the iPad version: 

Sketch:

Yeah, my bagpipe was pretty rough. And let's not consider that sad-looking car :P.

-- Julia
Portfolio site