I asked the Marchesa to tell me about her life, while Calder bent in to listen.
#snowday❄️ at the @agotoronto
Saturday sketching at the AGO – Illustrations by Alison Garwood-Jones
Saturday at the AGO
January 18, 2020
How I learned to create a Gif
January 11, 2020
“If you deal in quality, not awards, what you do will always feel real.”
This is what happens when people’s determination to produce gets greedy and misplaced.
Switching gears. Understanding how to tell your stories in multiple formats is a power thing.
Hats off to Melissa Lee (@MelissaLeeDesign).
Through her @Skillshare class, “Create a Hand-Drawn .Gif in PhotoShop,” I cobbled together my very first tiny animation.
Like a Disney animator, I used the onion skin technique.
Rainy days and Mondays are for chasing inspiration.
Thank you, Skillshare for being such a great resource!
In the Spotlight: KBarlow Design
December 13, 2019
As a #bossbabe, I can’t do everything on my own.
I’m already the executive editor and artist in chief for all of my websites, but I still have a beginner’s grasp of code.
Yes, coding is on my list of things to keep learning, but in the interest of time and my sanity I choose to delegate certain tasks. Niggly coding issues is one of them.
My go-to gal for website fixes for my store, Pen Jar Productions and and my longtime eponymous website, AlisonGarwoodJones.com is Kathryn Barlow
She’s an arty tech nerd. I like that.
Here’s an example of our working dynamic: Neither of us were digging the dark grey bar across my colourful pillows on my Shopify landing page. The bar was front and centre as soon as the page loaded.
Kathryn asked if I chose that or if someone else had set the site up like that? I explained that it came with the template. And I no idea how to change it.
Kathryn did a quick mockup to show me some better options, and I picked the beautiful aqua tone featured up top.
As Kathryn says, “Website makeovers don’t have to be huge, overwhelming ordeals. They can be tiny tweaks that update your website to better reflect where your business is at now.”
Check out Kathryn’s Instagram profile and website and consider teaming up with her in 2020 to keep your websites in top working order. ~ Alison
Pen Jar Productions is featured in the Toronto Star
December 6, 2019
A little dance around my drawing desk!
A year and a half into my illustration biz and I have my first serious piece of earned media, as the PR folks like to call “press.”
Thank you, writer and artist, Mary Vallis (@maryvallis @canadianstitchery). This means a lot.
I will be tabling tonight and tomorrow at the Algonquin Island Association Christmas Boutique 2019. And, yes, I will have to take the ferry to get there! Please come and visit me!
Proudly printed in Terano/Trawno/Tronno/Taronna/Torontoe by Notion
Home decor items featuring my art can be found at PenJarProductions.com
Algonquin Island Christmas Boutique
November 27, 2019
I love it when I get up early to make art.
I especially like imagining the features of my city through line and colour.
Reading about Toronto in a novel or seeing its what makes it unique through an illustration is a really good way to step outside of our ourselves and our routines and get a fresh sense of who we are and what we have to offer the world.
I will be joining a group of wonderfully talented artists and crafters participating in this year’s Algonquin Island Association Christmas Boutique 2019.
There will be spiked eggnog. Come by my table and let’s catch up!
DATES
Friday, December 6: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday, December 7: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
TRANSPORTATION
Take the ferry to Ward’s Island from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, and follow the signs to Algonquin Island and the Algonquin Island Clubhouse (AIA)
Ferry Schedule: 416-392-8194.
Featuring gift ideas from my shop: PenJarProductions.com
Who knew?
November 18, 2019
I met my friend Sam for lunch last week. We caught up on work and life.
Then he told me that walking into his living room and seeing the Watches Pillow I made for him was like receiving a little jolt of Wes Anderson. I’ll take that!
The things you learn about your designs from the people living with them!
Sam, this drawing is for you!
Peace out.
