Howard by Julia Pott

I consider YouTube to be one big cinema that offers byte-sized entertainment – free, 24/7. I notice though, that my choice of entertainment borders on the bizarre and are usually animated (sometimes it’s a combination of both.)

The things I find amusing are cartoons like Cow and Chicken (one of the most hilarious shows ever), old cartoons from Nickelodeon, and of course, Julia Pott’s animations – her most recent one is called Howard, a story about a relationship that has changed. Pull up a chair and enjoy!

A bite & a break

I’m taking a little break today after running around town for various appointments. And usually when I come back, all I want to do is to relax and look at all the yummy entries over at the Good to Eat flickr group. Here’s a few lovely entries recently that I love:

boy eating pasty1

{Illustration by Adrea Kearney}

Basmati Brown Rice Salad

{Yummy vegan dishes by Nami Kim}

bebidas-1

{Illustration by Emilie Boudet}

And of course there’s so much more to see that I have to tell myself to stop before I get too hungry — even seeing a candy bar nearby drives me over the edge!

p/s— You’re all welcome to add illustrations and photos of what keeps your creative tummy filled and warm over at the Good to Eat flickr group, so dig in!

The Pikaland Artist Boot Camp!

The Pikaland Bootcamp series!

I’ve been running the Pikaland blog for two years now and throughout this time, I’ve had the privilege of working together and learning more about the contemporary art + illustration community through YOU, the readers of this blog. While for the most part I’ve received lots of wonderful works, I’ve seen a few that made me go, “I wish I could tell him/her what I feel about this, and how they can improve just that little bit so they can shine brighter,” but I always hold my tongue and be polite instead.

So while I think politeness is all good and proper, I am one who thrives on constructive criticism – both on the giving and receiving end. So with this in mind, I’ve come to realize two major problems faced by artists and illustrators who are working predominantly online:

  • Lack of confidence + the hesitance to just begin; and
  • How to effectively set yourself apart from others, and have fun doing it!

To solve these problems, I’ve teamed up with the ever fabulous cat drawing lady Jamie Shelman to offer the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp so that we can teach those who really are keen and interested to whip themselves into virtual shape. If you’ve ever joined Jamie’s online courses (I have!) she offers great insight into artists works and points out to you what story you’re telling with your work — even if you aren’t aware of it yet.

Divided into two modules, the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp will enable artists to cement their personal style and also help them thrive and have fun as an artist online – with weekly exercises and personalized, constructive, one-on-one critiques to help emerging artists find their footing and ways to set themselves apart from others in the vast online world. No matter if you’re just starting out, or have been doing this for a long time, all are welcome!

So are you ready to bring out your inner artist and not only survive, but thrive as well? If you are, then head over to the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp page to find out how we can help you be the best you can be!