Welcome to my website,

When I was a little boy growing up in eastern Ontario, my sister once asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. She told me that I could be anything that I wanted. I told her that I wanted to be a giraffe. Lucky for me I had a back-up plan.

I have been an artist since I was five years old (we're all artists when we're five). One of my earliest childhood memories is of my mother comforting me on Saturday nights, because of calluses on my fingers. You see, on Saturday mornings I would get up at around 7:00am, turn on the cartoons, and draw with my markers (the ones in the tin box with the Van Gough painting on the front) until my fingers ached. My mother, of course, put the best drawings on the fridge, taking special care not to cover anything up with her brightly colored mushroom magnets.

I'm not five years old anymore, but not very much has changed. I still like to draw pictures, while I watch cartoons, and I am still thrilled every time my mother puts one of my drawings on her fridge.

What has changed?

I currently live in Kingston, Ontario and make my living as a freelance illustrator. I graduated with honours from the illustration program at the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1999. I also graduated in 1999 with my Bachelor of Design Degree through a joint program with the Ontario College of Art and Design and the Open University in British Columbia.

I have a wonderful partner named Stacy who comforts me on Saturday evenings, and looks after my calloused fingers.

About the work

This website was designed to showcase my portfolio emphasizing not only my commissioned work but some of my more personal work as well. My work is very important to me. It speaks of my life, the people that I love, and even my spirituality. I am inspired by literature, movies, and popular culture. I am also fascinated with rediscovering the power of literal and visual cliche.

To create my images I work primarily on the computer, although, on occasion I will work more traditionally with watercolor or pen and ink. Regardless of the medium, however, my focus is always the same – to establish character and tell an interesting story.

I have separated my work into four galleries. I invite you to spend some time in each gallery in order to get an accurate understanding of what I have to offer. Thank you for your interest in my work.

Sincerely,
Mark Julien