Sketchbook Potpourri

Here's another random sampling from my sketchbook potpourri!

I did a few drawings at this event at my building, but within a few minutes I misplaced my pen, so I just watched the show like everyone else.

Went to Trinity Bellwoods and came across these tough guys.

Here they got into a pretty serious debate over which stripper to get for an upcoming bachelor party. 

Meanwhile, this couple was breaking up.

And two hipster girls enjoyed some Greg's Ice Cream and gossip. One was "White Squirrel" flavour and one was "Roasted Marshmallow".

This kid sat at the picnic table for a while, waiting for her parents to come back from Inigo with some Portuguese chicken.

Eventually I made my way to The Black Hoof for dins. Sometimes I just get this wild craving for brain ravioli, you know?

It was crazy packed as usual. Lots of work for the dishwasher.

There was this female cook that I didn't recognize but I liked her braided ponytail.

And now you're up to date with the randoms of my life!

OIAF: Best of the Fest

At the Ottawa International Animation Festival 2011 there were so many excellent films and so much to absorb that by the end of day five my brain was blissfully out of commission. Now that I have regained consciousness I'll take this moment to share some of my favourites from the festival.

To me, the strongest programme was the Canadian Showcase. (I'm not just saying that as a Canadian!) I went for the purpose of seeing a few specific films but I also made some nice discoveries.

Wild Life, the tale of a proper young Englishman fending for himself in the prairies, was of course brilliant and turned out to be my favourite film of the festival. Wendy and Amanda's short is equal parts gorgeous, hilarious and poignant and I suspect that we'll be hearing about it again come Oscar season. Check out this clip to see what I mean.

Second Hand was a very clever, stylish film by Isaac King about a hyperactive (Torontonian?) businessman who lives his life by the clock in opposition to his hippie-dippy neighbours.

Dimanche (Sunday) is Patrick Dyon's first NFB film after participating in the Hothouse program. A little boy finds his own entertainment in a house full of adults and in doing so makes some amazing observations.


In addition to the Canadian Showcase, I was also able to see all five programmes in the Shorts Competition. That's a lot of films. Here are some that, in my opinion, you should seek out! I've included descriptions from the programme book so you know what they're about (though some are quite cryptic!):

The Pig Farmer by Nick Cross - "A simple tale of a wayward soul, awash in an ocean of tragedy and regret."

Intel: The Chase by Adam Foulkes and Alan Smith - "Using a dynamic mix of live action and animation, Nexus directors Smith & Foulkes used every trick in the action movie book and got some hot insider tips from their DOP, Oliver Wood, of Borne trilogy fame, to create this thrilling spot."

Swimming Pool by Alexandra Hetmerova - "Night love story of two outsiders, who meet in a closed swimming pool in the middle of a big city."

One Minute Puberty by Alexander Gellner - "Puberty, the fun and exciting times you had with pimples, uncontrolled new powers, and new experiences. This film explores metamorphosis, change and the chaos of becoming a real person."

Idea Ga Tsukamarani (Uncapturable Ideas) by Masaki Okuda - "A big man and a tiny man are searching for an idea. Struggling, both men become desparate, and after daybreak the big man is finally struck..."

Reddish Brown & Blueish Green by Samantha Gurry - "Child services, Schwag, and the American Dream."

I'm Fine Thanks by Eamonn O'Neil - "Are you ok?"

The Goat and the Well by Ben Cady - "The determination of a little goat causes endless problems for a grumpy milking lady. A comic, minimalist exploration of the strained relationships between man and beast."

Lil' Aliens  by Andy London & Peter Ahern - "The universe is a big place and I had the opportunity to go planet hopping this winter. Adult aliens are boring but baby aliens are awesome as shit."

Haru No Shikumi (The Mechanism of Spring) - "Everybody is excited to see the arrival of spring. This film tries to depict the excitement spring brings."


As part of the festival's selection of Special Presentations, I was able to see "Decoding Narrative: The Animated World of Gil Alkabetz". Part retrospective and part Q&A for me it was a wonderful introduction to Gil's work. The best part of any festival is making new discoveries and I found this presentation especially insightful. He's going to be in Toronto tonight for a talk that is presented by TAIS and the NFB. I encourage you to go!

It was a really fun fest and for those who couldn't make it, hopefully I'll see you next year!

Welcome to Ford Nation

 On Monday the Mayor's Executive Committee and Council watched on as members of the public gave deputations on proposed budget cuts in the city of Toronto. Usually in these situations an individual is given five minutes to speak but Council voted to reduce this time to two minutes due to the sheer volume of (mostly) complaints. By 10am there were over 300 registered deputants.

Three overflow areas were opened to handle those who could not fit into the main room. That's where I spent most of my time.

There was a similar meeting in July that ran all night and into the morning where Torontonians got up to speak about what they loved most about this city. As the night wore on it transformed into a sort of civic slumber party that unified strangers in hope of a better Toronto. Some people brought cake, others wandered the halls in PJs with their teddies in tow.

But this meeting was different. It was all about business and anger.

As I was drawing an older lady leaned in to tell me how much she loved my work. I thanked her, then she went on to ask if I receive city funding for my art. I answered no, but explained that I had recently made a film at the NFB. She then proceeded to lecture me about greedy artists who leech money from taxpayers to fund their silly art projects. "In the time of Da Vinci," she said, "There was no such thing as an Arts grant." We didn't speak much after that.

There was an hour-long break for lunch, and at that time the media swarmed Mayor Ford for comments on the meeting. The Mayor refuses to give interviews to many of the major news organizations (CBC! Toronto Star!) so they have had to resort to more aggressive tactics to get the story.

After lunch I was able to get in line early enough to snag a seat in the main meeting room.

There were some photographers there documenting the proceedings for the paper.

The man of the hour, Mayor Rob.

This photographer looked familiar to me, I think I saw him shooting at TIFF. He might be from The Star.

There was one moment where Ford had to pause the meeting because they did not have quorum. In order for things to proceed there must be at least seven members of the Executive Committee present and they were having a hard time keeping them in the room.

I almost signed up to make a deputation against Arts cuts but was afraid of being bullied by some of the Councillors. I've noticed that a few in particular tend to pounce on people, making it seem like they shouldn't be there. Even though it is their legal right.

I stayed until about 4:30pm, but the meeting went on well into the early morning. Let's just hope that someone was listening.

TIFFed Out?

In the last days of TIFF I was able to catch a few movies. This, of course, involved waiting in line and drawing everything.

The beautiful Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre was host to a screening of brothers

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's feature The Kid with a Bike. What a magnificent venue!

If you ever get a chance to step foot into the Elgin be sure to do it! There are in fact two separate theatres tucked away in this gorgeous historical building. The Winter Garden is actually stacked atop the Elgin in the world's last remaining example of this style of architecture.

I went on a walking tour of the building a few years ago and they explained how the Winter Garden was left abandoned for decades. When the time came to restore it the walls were caked with layers of filth from years of housing squatters and pigeons.

The film itself was brilliant. It's a drama about an orphan boy who befriends a woman after his father rejects him. If you get a chance, give it a look.

On another day I waited in the lobby of the TIFF Bell Lightbox to have a cup of tea before the Short Cuts Canada screening.

There are many, many shorts in the SCC programme so they divide them up into six blocks. I was there especially to see the premiere of the NFB's thermal 3D dance film, ORA. Which is AMAZING, by the way. Anyone who tells you that 3D is dead needs to see what happens when these tools are placed in the hands of a true artist.

The other films were really fun too, but mostly live action. Except for a stop-motion animated short about cabbage!

On the topic of festivals, I'm soon off to OIAF. If you're in the Ottawa area maybe you'll want to check it out?

Commute Home

Here are a few drawings from transit trips I've taken recently. Usually I ride my bike, but sometimes the journey is much too far for that. 

On the plus side I get some drawing time in. You can't ride a bike while drawing... or can you? I don't know, I haven't tried. Now there's an idea.

Always amazed by some people's ability to sleep anywhere. 

Recently I saw an ad on Craigslist under "missed connections" asking about a girl with brown hair hiding behind a pair of sunglasses who was drawing everyone in the subway. Perhaps they were speaking about me.

This smartphone business gets repetitive sometimes, you know?

Just Another Day At TIFF

At David Pecaut Square, the Toronto International Film Fest marches on.

The Dairy Belle rolls up to a curb west of Roy Thompson Hall, serving frozen treats to spectators.

A smoker turns his back on the spectacle surrounding Brangelina's arrival.

Girl locks her bike across from The Princess of Wales Theatre as a streetcar rolls lazily by.

Security guard sports an awesome MC Hammer-esque do.

A sea of spectators.

Too short?

Cameraman stakes out a good spot.

Photographer elevates himself above the crowd with a stepping stool.

Diehard fans cling to a pole for a better view.