Discover the exciting world of selling physical prints as a digital artist. This comprehensive guide offers valuable insights on selecting the right artwork, preparing for print, finding the best print service, and more. Whether you're a seasoned digital artist or just starting, this post is your roadmap to success in the art print market.

High Support Needs is a comic about autistic super heroes (NOT about how autism is a super power). As an autistic writer and artist I am often disappointed by the shallow and often damaging portrayals of autistic people in popular media. I wanted to harness my skill set to give my fellow autistics the representation they deserved. Autistic stories told from an autistic voice. This comic is many things, but primarily it is an indictment of a society that uplifts disabled people for inspiration porn while refusing to accommodate our actual support needs (we’re less inspiring when we have our needs met and don’t need to struggle through with a positive attitude and outlook on life.) The first issue is out now and you can download it for FREE by clicking the “free comic” link at the top of this page, but I thought it would be appropriate to write a blog post introducing you to the super hero team!

If you want to tell a compelling story, be it in comics, animation, or even just illustration, you have to be able to create visually compelling characters. Character design is a pivotal aspect of storytelling across various media, including animation, video games, literature, and more. A well-crafted character can capture hearts, ignite emotions, and resonate with audiences for years to come. Whether you're an experienced artist or a complete beginner, here are some essential tips to help you master the art of character design.

Hey there! Let’s look at my process for how I do my more abstract digital painting and portraiture. To get started, I’m using the largest size canvas my iPad can produce at 300 DPI IN CMYK colours so it will be ready to print. In my case that’s either a 25inch by 25inch or a 24x18inch canvas (these sizes also correspond to the printable canvas sizes on printify)

First thing I do is pick a colour palette, I use an app called coolers that generates colour pallets and then I screen shot them and import them as an image layer into procreate so I can create a custom colour palette in my swatch library.. I put each base colour along the middle slots and then pick a lighter and darker variation to go above and below it. I typically also grab some grey scale swatches in case I want to work out the values on grey and add the colour as an overlay.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement within the autistic community to retire the puzzle piece as a symbol for autism advocacy. Instead, advocates have proposed alternative symbols like the infinity symbol, which represents the infinite diversity and complexity of the autistic community.

Autistic children face unique challenges in the classroom, but with the right support from educators and parents, they can thrive and reach their full potential. In this blog post, I’ll share some tips for supporting autistic children in the classroom.

Recently I saw a tiktok featuring an autistic woman asking the 15% of working autistics (studies show only 15-30% of autistic adults are able to hold any kind of employment) how they did it. How were they able to manage their autism in such a way that allowed them to work? The overwhelming response was, “We don’t.” Person after person responded saying they are barely holding it together. I myself am constantly feeling like I am on the edge of burnout and often find myself asking how long can I keep this up?

As many people in the autistic community know, sensory overload is a common experience for those on the spectrum. Sensory overload can be described as an overwhelming experience where sensory information is processed by the brain in a way that is difficult to handle. This can be caused by a variety of different sensory stimuli, such as sounds, lights, smells, textures, and more.

As part of the neurodivergent community, autistics process sensory information differently than neurotypicals. For many autistics, sensory input can be overwhelming and cause discomfort, leading to a range of negative physical and emotional reactions. Sensory-friendly environments can make a huge difference in the quality of life for autistic individuals by reducing stress and allowing them to engage with the world around them more comfortably.

Inclusive spaces strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, including people with different support needs. However, accommodating conflicting support needs can be challenging. What happens when one person's need conflicts with another person's need? How can we create a space that supports everyone?

I recently saw a TikTok video of an autistic person mocking the notion that autism is a disability, they were addressing a lot of autistic traits that allistic people and neurotypical people view as being a deficit, but that autistic people see as our strengths, and I was conflicted about the messaging of the video. I responded saying “Yes to not viewing everything autistics do differently as a deficit, no to the further stigmatization of disability in the autistic community. Autism is a disability, and that’s okay.”

A while ago on TikTok a joke popped up in the autism community. The joke was we all started referring to ourselves as “Neurospicy” or as having “spicy autism” I didn’t get it at first, until I realized it was in response to how some people refer to autistics with lower support needs as having “mild autism” and so the neuro spice meter was invented. Because, at the end of the day, saying mild or severe autism is the same as applying functional labels.

I've just completed my latest painting, and I'm excited to share it with you! Titled "Warrior Woman in a World of Ruins," it's a departure from my usual urban landscapes but still draws heavily from my favorite artists' styles.

As someone who is part of the autistic community, I have noticed that there is still some confusion around the term "Asperger's syndrome." I will periodically run into someone who insists “I don’t have autism, I have asperger’s.” While it used to be a commonly used term, it has been phased out in recent years, with the DSM-5 (the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals) no longer including it as a separate diagnosis. So why is this the case? While not the only factor, a big reason is we don’t like to name things after Nazis.

As an autistic artist, I have found that one of the most effective ways to communicate my experiences is through visual art. I often have trouble describing what I’m feeling in words, or worse, I gaslight myself into doubting any feelings I have are real at all. But I can paint what it feels like, and that painting can evoke emotions in other people. I have painted several self-portraits depicting autistic traits, each piece representing a different aspect of my neurodivergent experience.

when COVID-19 hit and masks became mandatory in many public spaces, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For the first time, I could tic in public without worrying about the weird looks or comments from others. It was a strange and unexpected benefit of the pandemic.

One of my favorite things about creating art is the ability to capture the beauty in the mundane. I find inspiration in everyday objects and scenes, and I try to bring out their hidden beauty through my paintings. My Etobicoke paintings, for example, celebrate the sacredness of of the ordinary, as I try to find the beauty in the often cracked, broken, and abandoned places of the city I grew up in.

Autistic overwhelm and dysregulation can hit you like a ton of bricks. It just shuts down all ability to think and cope with anything. I’ve often described it like being hit in the face repeatedly with a foam bat, it’s not going to send you to the hospital, but it’s not leaving room for much else to happen, and it’s quickly rage inducing! From what I understand this is not a unique experience in my community. For many people with autism, the world can be very overwhelming. Everyday experiences such as loud noises, bright lights, and social interactions can be draining AF and difficult to navigate. As a result, autistics develop coping mechanisms to manage our traits, such as stimming, sensory diets, and social scripts. However, another valuable tool that can help manage autistic traits is art. You can ask my spouse, when I’m done with life, all I need is a weighted blanket and my art tablet.

after I learned about Matte Painting I became fascinated by it and wanted to try it myself. I spent hours studying tutorials and experimenting with different techniques, but I never quite figured it out. It always looked either obviously photoshopped, or overly painted. I couldn’t figure out how to meld the two styles into one unified and consistent style. However, this experience led me to adapt the technique and create my own style in my fantasy paintings.

As someone with executive dysfunction, I've always had trouble with organization, planning, and completing tasks. It's like my brain is a jumbled mess of thoughts and ideas, and it's hard to make sense of it all. I've tried different strategies over the years, but nothing seemed to work for me.