This one collects sticks instead of children ...

Be Good!

I did these drawings of instruments for Cadence House, a super awesome music school for people of all ages in Toronto. Check it out! cadencehouse.ca

Some Instruments!

Below is my letter to Stephen Harper in support of Chief Theresa Spence who is presently on day 19 of her hunger strike. If you are as upset and/or enraged by our Prime Minister's actions as I and wish to voice your concerns, you can write to him directly here: [email protected]


For those of you not already familiar with what I'm referring to, here is Chief Spence speaking to the CBC about what she hopes to achieve with her hunger strike: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UQ4vMoeD2s&feature=youtu.be

This is the Idle No More blog containing their mission statement, up to date information on Chief Spence's strike and info on how this grassroot's movement is gaining worldwide momentum and support: http://idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/


Pamela Palmater, a lawyer who previously worked at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Department of Justice discusses Idle No More's mission here:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/ID/2320467506/
and here: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Idle+More/7753967/story.html


MY LETTER:

Dear Stephen Harper,

I am writing you to express my deep disappointment in your continued refusal to meet with Chief Theresa Spence who is now in week 3 of her hunger strike. Clearly the meetings First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders have had in the past with representatives of the Government of Canada and committees have not amounted to solutions that adequately address the needs of their communities and uphold their Treaty rights. They would not be taking such a brave and bold stand now and gathering so much global support if your government was making good on it's promises to them.



Canada owes everything to its First People, Métis and Inuit and yet we continue to severely underfund their communities. Communities that are fracturing at the heart because they are in such dire and urgent need of the basic things most Canadians take for granted: clean drinking water, warm and safe homes, education and crisis support. Communities who rely on the land to live and to work. It is crucial to listen and understand the grave social and environmental impact your aggressive budget legislation will have, not only immediately on their communities, but for generations to come on ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN CANADA.

Chief Spence is starving herself, not because she wants to commit suicide but because she desperately hopes to live to see a better future for her people and the land. It's time to sit down with her and make clear commitments to ensure the protection of the people, languages, cultures and land she is fighting so hard for, and to ensure the protection of the environment for generations to come.

I humbly request that you meet with her immediately to begin negotiations for a Nation-to-Nation meeting between the Crown, the Chiefs and Leaders and yourself, just as you would with any other Sovereign Nation across the globe. Her cause is NOT unjustified or frivolous and it requires your immediate attention. 



Please meet with Chief Theresa Spence to end her hunger strike and begin reconciliations.


Thankyou sincerely,
Willow Dawson
Author and Illustrator
Toronto, Canada

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday filled with love and loot!

Deer and Girl

Hey people,

Lots of new items up in my Society6 store! New art prints, iPhone, laptop and iPad skins/cases, some t-shirts and tote bags and stationary card sets, even some pretty throw pillows! Go check it out!

http://society6.com/WillowDawson

Giclée Art Prints come framed and unframed

iPhone / iPod cases and skins!

Laptop and iPad skins

Stationary cards

T-shirts, throw pillows and tote bags

Hey everyone! 

For the holidays, I will be adding a new print weekly to my Society6 store until the New Year. And apparently, if you click this link, you'll get free shipping: http://society6.com/WillowDawson?promo=93c239 ... At least, for a little while longer!

First up is a brand new Sherlock Holmes print:

Sherlock Art Print

Hello good people,

Many of you know I work in a sunny studio in downtown Toronto with a bunch of other illustrators and comic creators. Did you know we also offer space to aspiring creative people on a monthly basis? Here are the deets:

Hotelling at RAID:
http://www.theraidstudio.com/hoteling-at-raid/
Also: no harsh chemicals, please.

If you're interested, please let me know by e-mail: jarsofhoney (at) gmail (dot) com
Or contact Ramón (his info is provided in the link).

Willow
(and RAID)

Fan Expo was last weekend and it was excellent. Friday and Saturday were the busiest days, thousands of people walking around. Some of them wearing great hand made costumes! The best was Dani Vulnavia's version of Kalman Andrasofszky's Evil Queen worn by Kelleth Cuthbert. Here is a pic of Kelleth in costume, holding Kalman's print... Stunning!

On Sunday I talked on a panel with Faith Erin Hicks, Scott Chantler and Jack Briglio, moderated by the fabulous Jen Haines, owner of the Eisner winning comic store: The Dragon. We discussed making comics for kids. Here is an excellent recap of our conversation on MTV Geek.

Thanks everyone who stopped by to say hi and buy a print or a book. It was so nice chatting with old friends and meeting new peeps!

Here are some sketches I did while hanging out at my table, enjoy!

Chimera! Chimera!

Crooked

Death Hair

Hairpants

Lycanthrope

Lichen

Sruffy Bird

Hi everyone!

I will be at Fan Expo this weekend with books, little sketches and new art prints for sale... Here are a few of the latest...

Storm Art Print

Goat Girl Art Print

Rapunzel Art Print (After Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber)

Poppy Art Print

Last weekend my man and I visited Haliburton Forest and the Wolf Centre. It was beyond phenomenal watching full grown wolves and little pups eat and romp around. I will be putting together a full post on it soon, hopefully with video, if I can figure out how to cut the film I took into shorter segments!

In the meantime, go check out my website! I've added a SKETCHES portfolio and there are a couple new illustrations in the INK section. Yay drawing! Here is the very latest...

The Race

Hi everyone!

Once again the fabulous Mariko Tamaki and I will be teaching our Comics course as part of U of T's summer workshop series.  Will you join us?  It is a "you don't need to know how to draw" and a "you don't need a full manuscript" type of class.  You should have ideas.  Be willing to write and share.

Here are the details... And please pass this info along to anyone you know who may be interested, we would very much appreciate that!

Creating Comics and Graphic Novels
Summer Writing Workshop
at University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

July 16 - 20, 2012 – 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

"Creating Comics and Graphic Novels" is a combination of theory and practice designed for writers/illustrators who are developing comic book or graphic novel projects. Course will provide students with an introduction to the amazingly diverse world of comics and daily workshops/assignments to develop their new comic works. This course will be co-taught by writer Mariko Tamaki (Skim, Emiko Superstar) and illustrator and writer Willow Dawson (Hyena in Petticoats, Lila and Ecco's Do-It-Yourself Comics Club). Students should bring rough characters and story ideas to the first class and be ready to begin conceptualizing on the first day.

The course fee is $699

Registration and more course info here: http://2learn.utoronto.ca/uoft/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=4098648

I know I'm a little late getting this post finished. My apologies to anyone waiting to hear about my recent visit to North Carolina and the Comics Fest... you needn't wait anymore!

I had such an awesome time there, I only wish I'd booked more time to stay longer. I was not expecting such a beautiful city (it was like a bunch of houses and buildings plunked in the middle of a huge, overgrown, breathtaking forest) and such wonderful guides!

Amy Godfrey, the Children's Librarian who organized Saturday's festivities, is an aerialist in her spare time, and she LOVES comics!! Patrick Holt is the other awesome Librarian who organized Sunday for the adults! I was a little jealous of Patrick's red tie, I think I could have pulled it off too! The two of them dreamed up Comics Fest last year and it was such a success with the kids that they were able to do it again this year!

Amy picked me up at the airport on Friday night and took me for a quick bite at Whole Foods, then helped me settle in to my hotel at La Quinta Inn. "Do you listen to This American Life?" She says, "Because there's that episode where Mike Birbiglia sleepwalks thru a second story glass window at La Quinta..." So I contacted the army and they confirmed that there were no giant missiles aimed at my room that night. Ffiew!

The next morning Amy and her awesome partner Kirill picked me up. We met Patrick at the farmer's market and had a quick bite to eat.

At the Farmers' Market with Amy

North Carolina Ice Cream Truck

Breakfast!

0 Comments on The Wolves and Children of North Carolina as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 38. North Carolina Comics Fest! 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 5/18/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Reading, Comics, Teaching, Superheroes, Author Visits, North Carolina, Signings, Readings, illustration / design / comics, About Willow, Interviews and Reviews, Add a tag Hi everyone, I had so much fun in PEI and am now on my way to North Carolina for Comics Fest! Nate Powell, Mark Crilley and I will be talking with kids about comics there. I'll post some pics once things get underway tomorrow, so stay tuned ... In other news, the lovely Susan Hughes (she wrote No Girls Allowed) interviewed me for Open Book Toronto. Click HERE to check it out. Yay! 0 Comments on North Carolina Comics Fest! as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 39. Adventures in PEI -- Part 4 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 5/11/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag I wasn't feeling too well when I woke up this morning so I took some cold medicine. I normally hate doing that but I wanted to be sure I had enough energy to get through my very last school visit. We drove for an hour and a half and I napped along the way. FRIDAY, MAY 11 10:15 am: John J Sark Memorial School, Lennox Island Lennox Island is a First Nation Mi’kmaq community on PEI. There were about 21 kids in grades 3-6 and it was a powerful experience being with them. They were fairly shy at first but quickly opened up about some of their life experiences and asked some pretty hard questions of mine.  Nora, the principal of the school, is absolutely lovely. She told me most of the kids have difficulties with literacy and may not know what a comic or graphic novel is. So you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I looked over and saw, to my surprise, a little guy with his nose buried in one of my books ... he was half way through it! I looked over again and he was 2/3's through! At one point, Barb overheard one of the girls say to another kid looking at Helaine's and my book about the ocean, "Could you pass the book, please?" The kids were hanging onto my books, not wanting to let go of them.  I knew I was getting close to the end of my visit but wasn't sure exactly how much time was left. When I asked one of the teachers he smiled and said "Ask the kids how they feel." So I did just that and they all yelled "No, stay with us!" I think I was there for over 2 hours, talking and drawing with the kids right into their lunch time!  It was so hard to leave. They are such a kind and gentle group of young people, I could have stayed there all day! At the end, one of the kids gave me a really special gift: a beautiful beaded star on a key ring. Nora said the kids make crafts in the Mi'kmaq tradition and sell them at festivals and pow-wow's. The girl who made mine has the same name as my sister ... "That's a coincidence!" one of the other girls said with a giant grin. I really wish I could have met Shyla personally but she was at the eye doctor that day. Thank you Shyla! Your star is such a treasure! 0 Comments on Adventures in PEI -- Part 4 as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 40. Adventures in PEI -- Part 3 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 5/10/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Reading, Teaching, Writing, Stories, Author Visits, Readings, PEI, illustration / design / comics, TD Children's Book Week, The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea, Hyena in Petticoats, Add a tag It was raining again this morning when I got up but the sun came out in the afternoon and made everything warm again!  Seaweed and Iron Oxide THURSDAY, MAY 10 9:15 am: Crapaud Public Library Oh my gosh, were these guys ever awesome! We arrived a wee bit late, but there awaiting us in the library were about 20 grade 5 kids from Englewood School. And they were SO EXCITED TO TALK TO ME!!!! This made my morning totally amazing. These kids had tonnes of questions about literally every aspect of what I do from the writing to the art to where I get ideas, even to where I work. The teacher was so great, she'd prepared them ahead of time by showing them my website and books and getting them each to write one Q down. They actually all had at least 3 questions each, which made for a really lively discussion. After finishing, as Barb and I were loading stuff into the car and the kids were getting on the bus she overheard one of the girls say, "I'm so glad I didn't stay home sick today." Seriously. How awesome is that?!? I should have photo's of this event soon and will post here when I do! We had a little extra time so we stopped at Victoria by the Sea. I'd wanted to get to the ocean so badly since my arrival but we'd had to rush from one event to another each day. So this was such a nice thing to do! I took lots of pictures ... Lighthouse, Victoria by the Sea Big Crab!   0 Comments on Adventures in PEI -- Part 3 as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 41. Adventures in PEI -- Part 2 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 5/9/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag Well, I woke up Wednesday morning to rain and red mud everywhere! The cloudy, wet, grey skies remind me of home in Vancouver and the red silty mud reminds me of dad who always had chunks of red clay out waiting for my little hands. We made all kinds of sculptures together and I continued this tradition of sculpture into high school where I was able to take pottery classes. I'm just realizing how long it's been since I've made anything in clay ... would be so nice to do that again soon! Well, continuing my TD Children's Book Week adventures ... I had a new driver today, her name is Minerva and it was really nice spending the day with her! WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 10:15 am: Charlottetown Rural High School, Charlottetown This was a pretty great group! I spoke to 45 writing students, some of whom had elected to come from other classes to hear me speak. They had some great questions about process and inspiration and why I do what I do. It was inspiring to see they've started up a student newspaper recently. I was told they only have 5 issues out so far, but I have to say that is pretty impressive! So wonderful to find young people with the initiative to work together on something outside of class. I think they have some faculty support but are mostly doing this on their own! Newspaper by writing students at Charlottetown Rural High School 1:00 pm: Kensington Public Library This was a very small crowd, but a lovely one. There were about 7 students from Kensington Intermediate Senior High School and 3-4 adults in attendance which made for a much more intimate setting. The kids were fairly quiet except for one who seemed to have endless questions. He was definitely intrigued by The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and was also interested in the comics, too. At the end, Karen Slater gave me a print of a beautiful painting she did of the island with some boats and a really pretty sunset. Than you Karen, it's beautiful! Driving home past a lot of farmland, noticing all the pretty colours people paint their houses here. Loved the lettering on the side of this barn, definitely wasn't Justanother Farm! Justanother Farm along the way ... Still to come: THURSDAY, MAY 10 9:15 am: Crapaud Public Library: FREE PUBLIC READING 1:00 pm: Vernon River Consolidated School, Vernon River: I'll be speaking to 56 grade 6-9 students! FRIDAY, MAY 11 10:15 am: John J. Sark Memorial School, Lennox Island: I'll be speaking with 21 kids, grad 0 Comments on Adventures in PEI -- Part 2 as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 42. Adventures in PEI -- Part 1 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 5/8/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag Well, I still haven't seen the singing sands yet, but the beaches are a stunning bright red! I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to write my first post of the tour, I began coming down with a cold the first day and have been sleeping it off in all my spare time. Thank goodness for vitamin C, ginger, and some of the greatest kids in the Universe! I've met so many kind, thoughtful, brilliant young people here, it is truly inspiring! Of the 10 schools and libraries on my tour, I've visited 5 so far. Let me describe to you some of the highlights ... MONDAY, MAY 7 9:00 am: West Kent Elementary, Charlottetown I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful start to the tour! Two girls met Barb (my awesome coordinator) and I at the doors and took us into the library where everything was set up and ready to go. I nearly cried seeing all the "Welcome Willow" signs! I only wish I'd gotten pics of all of them because they were everywhere and were so pretty!!! Tanya, the librarian, had taken some time to go through my website and the studio's site with the kids ahead of time to get them excited and thinking about questions. The room felt really alive, as a result, with kids shooting their hands up, asking and commenting and laughing along with me. I had such fun and was very sad to leave. "Welcome Willow" signs at West Kent Elementary! 10:30 am: Confederation Centre Public Library After West Kent I was whisked away to Charlottetown's Children's Library. The kids from Birchwood Intermediate School were a little late so I signed the guest book and talked briefly with a couple reporters. Barb gave me a copy of one of Cairine Wilson's books from CW's personal collection as a souvenir of my visit. Cairine was the first female senator in Canada and I drew her in Hyena in Petticoats! The kids eventually filed in and filled all the seats up! They were very quiet and at the end one of their teachers raised her hand and said the kids had a burning question they'd been dying to ask: Why was my imaginary salamander named Mister Gargoyle? They burst out laughing upon hearing the story! A group of kids came up to me after to ask a few more questions. Such lovely kids!! Gift from the Library: A Book from Canada's First Senator Cairine Wilson's own Collection 0 Comments on Adventures in PEI -- Part 1 as of 5/8/2012 11:05:00 PM Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 43. Touring PEI for TD Children's Book Week! 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 5/1/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag Hey everyone! I'm crazy excited because next week, I start my tour of PEI for TD Children's Book Week. I'll be visiting 10 schools and libraries across the island to speak with kids about reading, writing and illustrating. I'll post about my adventures as soon as I can, promise! For now, follow along at @WillowDawson (twitter) or find me on Facebook! East Coast ... Here I come!!! Libraries Confederation Centre Library – May 7, 10:30 am Summerside Rotary Library – May 8, 1:15 pm Kensington Public Library – May 9, 1:00 pm Crapaud Public Library – May 10, 9:15 am Schools West Kent Elementary, Charlottetown – May 7 Stonepark Intermediate, Charlottetown – May 7 Eliot River, Cornwall – May 8 Charlottetown Rural, Charlottetown – May 9 Vernon River Consolidated, Vernon River – May 10 John J. Sark Memorial, Lennox Island – May 11 0 Comments on Touring PEI for TD Children's Book Week! as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 44. Garden Flowers 2 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 4/16/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag I coloured up a few of my recent drawings from the garden. Voila! Chrysanthemum Poppy Erigeron Daisies 2 Comments on Garden Flowers, last added: 4/20/2012 Display Comments oddFAUNA said, on 4/20/2012 11:41:00 AM these are lovely willow! Willow Dawson said, on 4/20/2012 12:09:00 PM Awe, THANK YOU!! Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 45. The Axolotl: Master of Limb Regeneration 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 4/16/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Arm, Salamander, Limb Regeneration, illustration / design / comics, Nature, Science, Animals, Grow, Add a tag Hello my pretties! I promised you the final version of my Axolotl Salamander sketch, and here he is! You can also find him in my ink portfolio on my website. Hope you enjoy! Axolotl Salamander: Master Limb Regenerator 0 Comments on The Axolotl: Master of Limb Regeneration as of 1/1/1900 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 46. More Garden Sketches ... 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 4/10/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Birds, Nature, Robin, Gardening, Trees, Trunk, Plants, Nest, Shelf Fungus, Illustrations of Classics, Lubber, Egg, Branch, Grasshopper, Insect, The Secret Garden, Sketches and Roughs, Animals, Add a tag Birds of England: Willow Tit Robin's Egg Lubber Grasshopper Tree Trunk with Shelf Fungus 0 Comments on More Garden Sketches ... as of 1/1/1990 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 47. Erigeron Daisies 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 4/10/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Plants, The Seasons, Daisies, The Woods, Sketches and Roughs, Gardening, The Secret Garden, Erigeron Daisies, Flowers, Nature, Add a tag "The common name fleabane is derived from the belief that the dried plants repelled fleas, whilst the name erigeron is derived from the Greek (eri = early; geron = old man), a reference to the appearance of the white hairs of the fruit soon after flowering." —Wikipedia Erigeron Daisies 0 Comments on Erigeron Daisies as of 1/1/1990 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 48. Rapunzel 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 4/9/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag I've uploaded a brand new illustration to my site! Here she is... Rapunzel Rapunzel is inspired by Angela Carter's book The Bloody Chamber which was recommended to me by my wonderful agent Ali as research for a graphic novel proposal I'm currently putting together called Bird Girl. I hope to have Bird Girl ready to show publishers by Summer's end or early Fall, so stay tuned for more details and sketches as this unfolds. I've been pretty obsessed with Fairytales for most of my life, especially the older versions, which tended to be more violent and bloody. One of my dream projects would be to one day illustrate a huge book of them. Maybe even more than one book! Hmm... Well, hope you all enjoy this one! As I said, there will be more to come. 0 Comments on Rapunzel as of 1/1/1990 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 49. Flora 0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next By: Willow Dawson, on 4/9/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag I'm working on some fabric/wallpaper designs featuring the Secret Garden illu below and a bunch of my favourite flowers. I'm not exactly sure yet how this will work (balancing so many colourful elements in one image is always a challenge) but I'm going to give it a stab over the next month or so. I've always been in love with poppies, so here is the first sketch. The first of many flower sketches to come ... Enjoy! Poppy Sketch 0 Comments on Flora as of 1/1/1990 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag 50. Secret Garden 0 Comments | Previous | Top | By: Willow Dawson, on 3/27/2012 Blog: Willow Dawson's Sketchblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags:  Add a tag I'm pretty excited about this one... Behold: Secret Garden, inked and coloured for your ocular enjoyment. Click here to see a larger version. Hope you all enjoy! Secret Garden 0 Comments on Secret Garden as of 1/1/1990 Add a Comment More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag View Next 19 Posts © 2017 Jacketflap.com                         About Us   FAQ   Advertise on JacketFlap   About our Widgets program for Publishers   Privacy   Terms