Sheridan College's bachelor of applied arts (BAA) illustration program held it's first annual Illustrationism conference on April 19. At the Glass Factory in Toronto, industry members and the 2012 graduating class came together to learn and network, and also create some illustrations. 

 

The conference featured two panel discussions, in addition to a social media movement it had organized where participants were invited to share illustrations by drawing on sketchbooks or on several large pads and white boards around the room. Pictures of the work were then upload to twitter through Instagram using the hashtag #illustrationism. The images can be viewed on the Illustrationism website.  The initiative is still open and the public can add to the illustration collection.

 

"Images are everywhere and many of us do images for living so we thought it'd be interesting to have a conversation about images and have you [the audience] participate in that conversation," said coordinator of the Sheridan College BAA illustration program Joe Morse as he opened the conference. 

"If you take the risk to define yourself as more than illustrators then you'll find more doors open up," said David Coelin. 

 

The students were then quizzed on how ready they were to approach potential employers. Sean Moffitt asked audience members to raise their hands if they had a business card, which they all did. He asked them to keep their hands raised if their business card was a piece of awe-aspiring work that they would gladly show off as one of their best pieces, at which point only a few hands remained in the air. This routine was repeated with Moffitt asking who had a blog, who was on Linkedin, and who had approached any of the seven panelists beforehand to introduce themselves (nobody had).  

The idea of being both an illustrator and an entrepreneur was reaffirmed by the afternoon panel, which consisted of internationally reknown artist Joe Fleming, award-winning animator and illustrator Matt Hammill, creative director at Rethink Communications (Toronto) Dre Labre, freelance illustrator Graham Roumieu, cofounders of the art licensing and surface design studio Sorry You're Happy Jen Hsigh and Kyle Reed, and award-winning freelance illustrator Ben Weeks. The panel discussed the importance of not only carrying out their illustration commissions, but contributing business and brand ideas to a company. The panel said there's a need to connect with the client and show the value of the design/illustration process. 

 

"Don't be afraid to offer your own ideas and collaborate with the client," said Jen Hsigh.

 

Dre Labre put it simply: "It's not just about drawing, but ideas," so while you may be praised for your artistic abilities, it takes interesting and effective proposals to become a more vital asset to a brand. 

 

Later that evening was the Sheridan BAA Illustration grad show, at the same location. This year's Best of Show winner is Celia Krampien, while Carol Chang Liu took the Brenda Clark Book Prize and Richard Starrett won the top honours for scientific/technical illustration.

See more images from the conference and the grad show.