aaron leighton

Pictoplasma 2012

Aaron Leighton — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:29:00 -0800

This is exciting: I've been asked to be a presenter at this year's pictoplasma festival in Berlin, as have my friends Hyein Lee and Nathan Jurevicius. Many thanks to Peter and Lars!

The Subconscious Sketchbook... again!

Aaron Leighton — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:23:00 -0800

Wondering how to spend Valentines Day? Why not sign up for my Subconscious Sketchbook class at Nook, starting on February 14 and going for three consecutive Tuesdays? Your partner will love you for it!

Pictoplasma Paris

Aaron Leighton — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:58:00 -0800

Some exciting news: I recently found out that one of my characters will be included in Pictoplasma Paris being held at the Gaîté Lyrique gallery from December 7 – 31. It's an honour to be included in Pictoplasma, which I've been lucky enough to attend a couple of times in Berlin, and to be in a show in Paris is the icing on the croissant. My talented pal Hyein Lee also has some work in the show. Thanks very much to Peter and Lars for everything!

Nook Holiday Sale!

Aaron Leighton — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:37:00 -0800

Here's a sneak preview of two of the little hand-made spirits I'll be selling this Saturday, December 3, at part one of the Nook Holiday Sale! It's happening again on December 10, so if you're in Kensington Market here in Toronto, swing by Nook (156 Augusta Avenue), and check out the veritable treasure trove of hand-made holiday treats for sale.

Mecanismos by Carl Wiens

Aaron Leighton — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:54:00 -0800

It's still a week and a day away, but the opening of the Mecanismos show by illustrator and all around great guy Carl Wiens promises to be amazing. Comprised of an impressive 100 unique screenprints, the idea for the collection began as a series of experimental digital collages based on Carl's collection of old textbooks and catalogs. Channeling his inner Dr. Frankenstein, he remixed 16 heads, 16 bodies, 45 background elements and 7 colours to create the charming robotic characters, "animating the inanimate" to use his own words. Domo arigato Mr. Mecanismo! The show opens on November 26 at Oeno Gallery in Prince Edward County. More info here.

Trio Magnus at Beatbox Canada 2011

Aaron Leighton — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:13:00 -0800

I'm not sure how you spent the evening on Saturday, November 12, but along with my mates Steve Wilson and CTON, I spent it doing live drawing at the 2nd Annual Canadian Beatbox Championships. We were there representin' as our collective Trio Magnus and doing a 5 x 9 ft live drawing with red and black Snowman™ markers while the contestants onstage used only a microphone to churn out sounds and beats I didn't think humanly possible. Check out the final showdown here, and thanks to Gary for the opportunity!

bbc2011"/>

Draw like a kid

Aaron Leighton — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:54:00 -0800

This Thursday will be part two of my Subconscious Sketchbook class at Nook, and if last week's class was any indication, it's going to be fun. Donuts were eaten, sketchbooks were started and an important point arose: it's way more important to simply do something in a sketchbook than worry about what to do.

If you want a perfect example of this approach, watch a kid draw. All kids can draw because no one has told them they can't, and it's full steam ahead from the moment they grab the pencil until the drawing is done. Then it's on to the next one, without any worry or need for reference material. Of course, we can still all draw with such reckless abandon – we just have to give ourselves permission to. For inspiration, here is a drawing courtesy of Harper (five), the daughter of one of my class members. Look and learn!

Happy Halloween 2011!

Aaron Leighton — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:37:00 -0700

It's the most wonderful time of the year...Halloween! Best wishes to you and yours for a truly terrifying day, and if you're not busy creating toilet paper artwork tonight, swing by the Nook studio here in Toronto (156 Augusta Avenue, Kensington Market) for the Occult Q&A. Boo!

Occult Q&A

Aaron Leighton — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:07:00 -0700

What are you doing for Halloween night? Sitting on the porch giving away your hard-earned candy is noble, of course, but wouldn't you rather spend the evening discussing all things paranormal? If so, join me and illustrative wunderkind Drew Shannon at the Nook studio for an Occult Q&A! Bring your stories, your questions and your metaphysical musings as we delve into what occultism actually is and isn't, sharing some arcane lore along the way. For instance, did you know plants have auras? Or that there were real-life wizards? Or that the word "occult" simply means "secret" in Latin? Proof is boring. Let's celebrate Halloween by embracing extreme possibility!

The Occult Q&A is a free Nook event happening Monday, October 31 at the Nook studio, 156 Augusta Avenue in Toronto's Kensington Market. It will run from 7:00 pm until whenever we get scared. Please RSVP by e-mailing me at info@aaronleighton.com.

Kelsey Heinrichs

Aaron Leighton — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:13:00 -0700

Kelsey Heinrichs is another one of my recently-graduated students whom I like to call the young god of character design. Well, OK – I've never called him that until now, but it's an apt title. His stretchy day-glo characters, alternately playful, menacing and completely insane, were a constant source of inspiration whenever I flipped through his epic sketchbook. Imagine Ren & Stimpy creator John K having a mutated baby with all of the Expressionists at once. Yes, he's that good. Check out this stuff here. Also: happy Canadian Thanksgiving everyone!