Illustration « Alison Garwood-Jones

Saturday at the AGO

Originally published in January 2020 in Blog, Graphic Recorder, Graphic Visualizer, Illustration, Visual Storytelling

I asked the Marchesa to tell me about her life, while Calder bent in to listen. #snowday❄️ at the @agotoronto #agoannualpass Saturday sketching at the AGO – Illustrations by Alison Garwood-Jones

Dear Facebook

Originally published in January 2020 in Blog, Comic, Graphic Recorder, Graphic Visualizer, Illustration, Toronto Illustrators

How I learned to create a Gif

Originally published in January 2020 in Blog, Toronto Illustrators

“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 […]

In the Spotlight: KBarlow Design

Originally published in December 2019 in Blog, Toronto Illustrators

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 […]

The truth about the world

Originally published in December 2019 in Blog, Illustration, Toronto Illustrators

Pen Jar Productions is featured in the Toronto Star

Originally published in December 2019 in Blog, Illustration, Toronto Gifts, Toronto Illustrators

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 […]

Who knew?

Originally published in November 2019 in Blog, Graphic Recorder, Graphic Visualizer, Illustration, Toronto Illustrators

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 future

Originally published in September 2019 in Blog, Illustration, Toronto Illustrators

Photo and Illustration by Alison Garwood-Jones Josh is in the fifth grade. He likes history and basketball. Photo and Illustration by Alison Garwood-Jones Adelaide likes hearts and story time. Today, I joined forces again as a portrait artist with my wonderful partners at @JamiiEsplanade. It was their 10th year organizing @culturedays and the program, […]

Art Helps

Originally published in September 2019 in Blog, Cartoons, Comic, Illustration, Toronto Illustrators

In ten seconds, the ticker tape of a woman’s mind can go from, “I need a snack,” “When do I pick up the kids?” to “What’s the root cause of misogyny?” Most gals who pay attention to the way the world works are only two or three thoughts away from dystopian spirals. Afternoon cheese and […]

Meeting my customers

Originally published in August 2019 in Blog, Custom Portraits, Enamel Pins, Jane Jacobs Enamel Pin, Pen Jar Productions, Profile,, Toronto Illustrators

The best part of owning and operating Pen Jar Productions, my online store, is creating the product and meeting my customers. Here is my interview with Fernanda van der Laan, proud owner of my Jane Jacobs enamel pin. This summer my Jane Jacobs pin (circled in blue) entered a special collection of over 300 pins, […]

Alison Garwood Jones

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