Bustagut Studios

Back in it!

2010-09-15T16:42:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note to mention I move into my new space Oct 1st and can't wait to get

my studio set up! I am now also involved in social media consulting with my first big client being 20Vic properties (Lansdowne Place Mall). become a fan..you could win stuff!

http://www.facebook.com/LansdownePlaceMall

I'll keep it short and sweet for today.

night!

Going Through IT.

2010-08-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well I have recently discovered that life can throw some nasty curve balls.

BUT I am also slowly learning that it is what you take from these situations, and to what extent you are able to put a positive spin on them, that determines in what direction you will travel next. So, some days are crappy...other days are really crappy but I'm working on adjusting bit by bit. When you are going through a separation it really feels like you are the only one who has gone through it...but it happens all the time..just never thought it would be me. My wife and I were together for 16 years...we met when i was 17 and she was 16 and she was/maybe still is the love of my life. But again we move on, the world keeps turning and my kids are my priority.

I'll probably continue to post my thoughts here because it seems to be good therapy.

If anyone has any advice or wold like to share their story too...feel free to use my blog as your platform!

On a more positive note, I'll have some art news to add as well....

sorry if this blog is kind of scattered and confusing but it's kind of a direct reflection of where my head is at these days.

bye for now!

Jason

Sorry!

2010-03-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

..is the name of my new cartoon series! (first 2 above) join my Facebook fan page and stay in the loop! (www.facebook.com/drawingboard)

+ I'll be giving away a free custom caricature in April to one of my fans!

Take care!

Jason

The Power of Twitter!

2010-03-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

So you may have heard by now, but Sarah Killen from Michigan is now one lucky 19 year old
because Conan O'Brien picked her to be the only person he is following on Twitter!
This has resulted in Sarah going from 3 followers to 27,000 in about a week and a flurry of freebies including a new imac and goodies for her September wedding! It has changed her life and it is nice to see her using her "new power" for good, making regular posts about helping others and setting up her own non-profit organization. I am now lucky enough to be 1 of the 91 people she is following, and may be drawing caricatures at her wedding, where in attendance will be Conan himself! nice Job Sarah, only good things to come!
the Power of social media never ceases to amaze me!

Jason

Artist + Business person

2010-02-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

a great video by Todd McFarlane on balancing business and art.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPT93C-PtdY

Putting you imagination to paper.

2010-02-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

Hey, it's not easy as a novice artist (or even a seasoned artist), to translate what is in your head down onto paper..I remember being so frustrated at myself for being able to visualize the most amazing picture, but not having the ability to put that down onto paper the way I saw it so vividly in my imagination.

Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

1) Nothing beats practice...so draw, draw, draw...copy comic books, draw from life..anything

to improve your hand/eye coordination.

2) "chunk out" the drawing - in other words instead of trying to tackle the whole image that you

have up in your head, draw out pieces of it, kind of like a puzzle. This should improve your

focus, and confidence.

3) Before jumping into a drawing at it's final stage, build it up. Do some very rough preliminary

drawings first to sort of map out where you want to place things, then build final line work

up from there. Not many professional artists I know jump right into a drawing expecting a

finished product right away...lay the ground work!

4) CONFIDENCE! If you don't believe in your own abilities as an artist, you simply will not

be able to give your best to what you are trying to create!

So go to it! ... and again, I'd love to hear your struggles and successes here on my blog..I'll reply back always with any words of wisdom I can give.

Have a great day! Jason.

Make mistakes!

2010-02-17T10:19:00.000-08:00

You hear it often, but honestly, nobody likes to mess up and make mistakes in life.

Although this may be true it is a necessary part of life...it helps us grow as people to find out what works and what doesn't. This rings very true when learning how to paint or draw...you need to draw that horrible looking picture of your dog before you can improve. So here is some homework. Go out and buy a really thick sketchbook...get to your local mall and sit in the food court for a few hours a week and just draw people. This can get akward if the people you are drawing catch you glaring their way, but it will payoff 10 fold. You need to learn to draw well from life first before you can move onto anything else...so lose that addiction to competency and make some mistakes! You have my permission. Fill that sketchbook and keep me posted here on my blog on how you are doing! Later, Jason.

Poodle Clipping!

2010-02-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

Useless fact of the day - in the late 1800's Poodle Clipping was an Olympic event!
and someone actually won a gold medal for clipping 14 poodles in an hour!....WTF!

I can't draw!!

2010-02-09T16:51:00.000-08:00

I hear this all the time when I'm teaching, and I hate hearing it because kids and adults alike are addicted to competency...we are raised to believe mistakes are bad and, well, not to do them. I tell my students it is the entire opposite when learning to draw (or anything in life really).
If you don't make mistakes how will you learn what works!? The key...draw...alot.
Draw from life, copy, trace..anything that will improve your hand-eye coordination...it will come, you just have to train you hand to put down on paper what your eye is seeing...easier said then done I know...
If you are having trouble and want to some advice reply to this blog and I'll get right back to you! Thanks for reading!

Metro Toronto Convention Centre this weekend!

2010-01-22T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'll be drawing caricatures all day Saturday and Sunday for Travel Alberta, at the International Travel show at the MTCC. Gonna be lots O' fun but my poor drawing hand is in for some pain :)
If you are going to be in Toronto this weekend, drop by for a free caricature!

Caricatures via Skype!

2010-01-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

Technology continues to make my job as a caricaturist easier everyday!
I can now do live event caricatures via Skype. All you need is a fast internet
connection, a webcam and Skype! Have your guests sit on front of your computer
and I'll draw them live from my home studio! I can then send over digital
copies of each caricature and mail out a hard copy package customized for your event!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a great holiday..time really does fly..only a few days until 2010!
I was hoping to see a flying car in mass production by now..oh well.
The Wilkins clan had a great Christmas and it was pretty low key which I love!

So what is coming in 2010 for Bustagut Studios you ask? Well, 2010 is going to be an
exciting year...here is what is on the drawing board,

1) The official launch of my "Gimlies" clothing and product line will be happening
in January. Check out www.chillibull.com soon for updates on products and to purchase
details! Gimlies are going to be HUGE so you'll wanna get online and be the first to buy!

2) Teaching for the continuing education program at Loyalist College in the Spring.

3) Teaching comic book creation at the Art Gallery of Peterborough

4) Teaching another session at Prince of Wales PS for their Arts In Action Program.

5) Painting a mural on 2 sides of a water tower in Penetanguishine ON (delayed job from the fall)

6) Teaching painting and drawing for the 2010 summer program at the Art School of Ptbo.

7) Teaching Cartoon and Comic Book creation for the winter term at the Art School of Ptbo.

8) Teaching provate lessons in my home Studio.

and I think that's all for now!
Will try to keep on top of my blog in 2010!

Anyway, Happy New Year Everyone and all the best!

Jason

Bustagut Studios on TV!

2009-11-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Well my water tower mural job has been postponed due to the crappy weather we have been having here in Ontario, but will resume again in the Spring.
This however, has given me time to do other things like be on TV!
Chex News Watch to be exact where they did a piece on Bustagut Studios (me)...

check it out on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJhq8Lr8BZw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy50-WnvMXU

Me, some contractors and a watertower!

2009-10-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

Well I just signed a contract today to paint a mural on a restored water tower in a small town near Georgian Bay ON. I leave Monday and will probably be there until Saturday or Sunday.
It is gonna be chilly but a great job! Was hired by Bruce at www. heritagerestorationinc.com.
Will post some pics on here soon...provided I make it back alive! :)

Where does the time go!?

2009-10-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Almost at the halfway point in October..can't believe it!

I just paid another visit to the owner of Play Street in town as I completed

another colouring page will be added to his new site as a printable option

for all the kids out there...for those who aren't from my little borough, Play Street

is an indoor playground for kids..totally awesome! So if you are looking for a place

to host your child's b-day party this is it..Tom will look after you!

Also, in Bustagut news, in the winter I will be teaching continuing ed. courses

for Loyalist College...possibly life drawing and portrait drawing + whatever else

we can come up with.

Also finished up that very Big Corporate caricature job with Atria networks...posting pics to my blog..hopefully it works.

SO, gearing up for the next few months...

on the drawing board

1) promote gift and event caricatures for x-mas!

2) advertise private drawing/cartooning classes

3) course prep for winter teaching

4) finish portrait commission this month

5) update website

6) oh, almost forgot! have teamed up with http://www.chillibull.com/

for clothing and gadget skin designs....they are also now the official

provider of Bustagut apparel!

That's it for now..take care and Happy Thanksgiving!

www.Bustagutstudios.com

2009-10-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

hire me!
gift caricatures are great for birthdays, retirement, corporate functions..you name it!

BRRRRRRRR!

2009-09-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is gone and winter...I mean Fall is here!
So to take you all off the edge of your seats, I did just finish
that job for Atria Networks which consisted of 122 digitally coloured
caricatures! My biggest challenge yet as far as time line goes but they are
done and look great! I am then attending their event this Saturday
at the King Edward hotel in Toronto to draw some more, and see
my caricatures displayed...should be awesome!
Thanks Stephanie and Alex from Atria who organized this whole thing!
Next on the drawing board is some more cartooning workshops at Prince of Wales
Public school...a great group of kids there + cartooning class at The Art School
of Peterborough. I am now officially self employed so if you are reading
this and need artwork done contact me! I need the work! :)
Until next time..see ya!

2009-09-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming to an end...

2009-09-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

...but luckily the work is still rolling in! I was just commissioned to do
120 caricatures for a large corporation..yes..120!!..and I have a few weeks to complete
the project. I am super excited and can't wait to get started.
Also this month and next, I begin teaching various classes in different spots across
Peterborough. One of which is for the newly formed arts program at Prince of Wales PS...
I'll be doing cartooning workshops on different dates throughout the school year at the school.
It's a great thing they have started there, and will make such a huge difference in the lives
of young artists.
That's it for now! Soon my kids will be back to school and I can work in peace :)
But seriously..it has been a great summer and I'll miss the extra quality time with them and Dawn.

bye!

I'm taking over the world one borough at a time!

2009-08-11T16:28:00.001-07:00

Hey is anyone out there?..well, if you are reading this, thanks!!
So an update..I finished all 30 illustrations for Trnt University which will be
printed and sold on their merchandise this Fall..can't wait to see how they look..next for Trent are shirt designs for their upcoming Olympics!
On the drawing board, promo art and design for Sin City night club here in town..I met
with the owner Al today..super nice guy..I can't wait to get started on some designs for him..he has given me total creative freedom which is always a plus!
Teaching full time at the Art School of Peterborough wraps up next week..it has been fun and
the kids were awesome. Kids truly are the best artists.
Well, I'm gonna have to cut it short 'cuz my kids are yelling at me for ice cream.
bye for now!

Happy Canada Day EH!

2009-06-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

It's time to celebrate this great land of ours! So get over the top with your Canadianess...hug a mounty, pet a beaver (careful), get a maple leaf tattoo, drink some pure maple syrup and smile with pride as you throw it up, say hi to everyone you pass on the street and glare at those who don't acknowledge you, drink lots of beer (this really goes without saying), and do your best Jim Carrey and John Candy impersonations! Feel truly privileged to live in the best country in the world. Cheers and be safe!

Professor Wilkins perhaps?

2009-06-24T05:52:00.000-07:00

Great news! The Dean at Durham College's School of Media, Art and Design has agreed to meet with me in regards to some possible contract work in the winter! Fingers crossed...my chance to warp young minds!

Bustagut is bustin' a move!

2009-06-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

I know..lame..but it's true! Just finished a bunch of caricatures for Father's Day and now I'm working on
a quote for Trent University...looks like I'll be creating artwork that will be printed on mugs, bags t-shirts etc. for sale to Trent Students. Looking forward to it..but possibly 30 drawings in 2 weeks!!
Also have a bust summer coming up..I'll be teaching art full time at the Art School of Peterborough as well
as the learning source..look me up and join a class!

That's it for now!
J.

I'm blogging!

2009-04-24T07:08:00.001-07:00