Toronto Illustrators Archives - Alison Garwood-Jones Alison Garwood-Jones

Pigeons & Elevator Buttons

Originally published in January 2021 in Blog, Illustration, Toronto Illustrators

I’ve never met a toddler who didn’t …

Happy Holidays

Originally published in December 2020 in Blog, Toronto Illustrators

Environment Canada is calling for a macroburst of sparkle and fairer winds in 2021. (Abstract illustration by Alison Garwood-Jones)

Life Drawing during Covid

Originally published in December 2020 in Blog, Toronto Illustrators

Dude throwing javelin Woman in fetal position Grizzled man hunched in deep thought I’ve pointed my drawing horse at all of these classic life drawing poses (back when it was possible to attend pay-as-you-go art classes). During Covid, to prevent rust buildup, I’ve sought out figure poses in Google image searches and YouTube channels, including […]

Custom Home Portraits

Originally published in October 2020 in Blog, Holiday Gift Ideas, Toronto Illustrators

A custom illustration of your home makes an original holiday gift.

Avoid the hard sell

Originally published in October 2020 in Blog, Continuing Education, Social Media Instructor, Toronto Illustrators

As a University of Toronto (SCS) instructor in #DigitalStrategy, I like coming up with different ways to explain what it takes to build a commercial relationship with your audience, without being obnoxiously salesy or transactional. #AdBlockers When you want something too much … it doesn’t happen. #Desperation The art of persuasion is about laying down […]

Growing up in an artistic home

Originally published in October 2020 in Blog, Profile,, Toronto Illustrators, Video

The soil I grew up in was planted with art, music and literature. Mind you, I didn’t start seriously reading until university. I was too busy staring at the layout of my marker sets. The following clips are from my interview with Nargiz Mammadova, the co-founder and CEO of the Destin AI app, an AI-powered […]

Avoiding a scoreboard approach to social media

Originally published in September 2020 in Blog, Social Media Instructor, Toronto Illustrators, Video, Webinar Host, Webinars

Why it’s important to avoid a scoreboard approach to social media, especially if you are an artist.

My next IABC Keynote Address

Originally published in September 2020 in Blog, Illustration, Social Media Instructor, Toronto Illustrators

When Covid-19 sent us into lockdown in March, I spent the rest of the month, and all of April, endlessly scrolling on my phone, with no focus and zero discipline. By May, I was taking notes on how the pandemic was rearranging the economy. By June, I was ready to put myself back out into […]

Will the fashion industry listen?

Originally published in August 2020 in Blog, Pen Jar Productions, Surface Design, Toronto Gifts, Toronto Illustrators

As I search for a new fulfillment partner for my design biz, PenJarProductions.com, all eyes are on the fashion and garment industry. How long will it keep promoting a race-based caste system that only benefits people who look like me? And will it finally decide to listen to scientists and consumers who keep documenting and […]

Milton Glaser

Originally published in August 2020 in Blog, Profile,, Toronto Illustrators

Milton Glaser was (and is) my teacher. He didn’t know that. But I know it and so do the thousands of other attuned souls who sidled up to him for wisdom. When Milton explained that “Attentiveness is the great benefit of drawing,” I instantly understood why drawing had taken hold of me over words. Becoming […]

Alison Garwood Jones

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