Today we are sharing the work of one of our talented Brown Bag Films Toronto (formerly 9 Story) animators, Diane Aarts, who is currently working on season 2 of Nature Cat.

Diane shared with us the story behind her sketches and gave a little more insight into what she loves to draw on the daily, and her current favourite drawing tool of choice!

1. Tell us a bit about these sketches?

These are both drawings of Charlie Quinn at a costumed life drawing class (Toons On Tap). The theme was Bellhop/Diner waitress, I was drawing in ink and marker for these sketches. It’s a pretty chill event to go drinking and drawing with friends every other week.

2. What is your favourite subject matter to draw?

People and animals. And I love to cafe sketch wherever I go.

3. What are your favourite or most beloved tools to create with?

Recently my favourite drawing device has been my phone. I have a Samsung Note 2, and I like using Corel Painter to whip out quick colour sketches as frequently as I can. Not everyone’s favourite program, but I like the brush tools in it. 

4. Who are your inspirations?

I have a lot of them! I love really appealing expressive styles- Shiyoon Kim, Brittney Lee, Pascal Campion, Babs Tarr, Gabriel Picolo come to mind. I’m also always super impressed with the work of my class and workmates.

5. Tips for aspiring other artists and animators out there?

Waiting for the perfect idea or perfect mood to draw can be paralyzing. It can be difficult, but I’ve learned the fastest when I ignore all those worries and just make art for the sake of it.

7. Favourite thing to draw over and over again?

I always go back to Dungeons and Dragons characters. I run one game and play a couple times a month, and I love drawing interesting characters and funny moments in our games.

6. Life Motto? Favourite Quote?

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

8. Where can people see more of your work?

I have a lot of them, here they are:

http://dianeaarts.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/DianeAarts
https://www.instagram.com/diane.aarts/
https://dianeaarts.blogspot.ca/

Diane was also recently included in a story about Toronto artists’ sketching on Transit, in the Globe and Mail. Check it out here!