Art Pays Me

Dylan Edwards is a Writer, Artist and Animator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We talk about how he got into the animation industry, how it’s been impacted by COVID-19 and why so few people know the Halifax studios that contribute to the industry. We also talk about the value of intellectual property, why it’s good to work on independent side projects and why it’s important to understand business when working as a commercial artist.

Dylan Online:

Textile Artist, Quilt Designer, Author and Educator Andrea Tsang Jackson talks about her transition from architecture, to exhibit design, to making her creative escape, quilting her full-time pursuit. She shares the emotional impact of doing creative work as a mom and non-Black or Indigenous woman of colour during the pandemic and social uprisings. We also talked about the “model minority” concept and the complicated dynamic of race and gender in quilting as a practice and industry.

Andrea Online:

Artist, Shannon Ellis and I talk about her sci-fi and fantasy inspired work, our mutual fascination with Japanese animation and why she loves crows. We also talk about Shannon’s role with The Creative Kick, a Halifax based organization that helps creatives expand their social circles and share knowledge and resources.

Shannon Online

Multidisciplinary Visual Artist Chantel Gushue and I talk about how she incorporates science into her art practice, parenting during the pandemic, why she’s not a fan of the traditional “class crit” in art education and why graphic designers make good jewellers. We also talk about our time at NSCAD University and how fostering relationships with other artists can lead you to exciting new opportunities.

Food branding consultant Sunil Sarwal talks about the benefit of specialization in a service based creative business. We learn about their creative process, why they got into the industry, how they determine what to charge clients and why it’s important to discuss budget very early in the project.

Sunil Online

Beatmaker and Producer DK talks about his music making process, his love for the classic hip hop sound of the 90s and how he gets the attention of established artists he’d like to work with. DK also talks about why working on his own projects has helped him gain recognition and why working locally is important even in the internet age.

DK Online:

Stand Up Comic Eman El-Husseini and I talk about why comedy is a great way to discuss tough topics, being a Canadian in New York during the 2020 Pandemic, why she’s not afraid to say things in her comedy that will upset people and how her identity as a Palestinian lesbian blurs the line between her work and personal life.

Eman Online:

Maggie Rahr is an award winning multimedia Investigative Journalist. I discovered Maggie through her podcast ‘What Happened to Holly Bartlett’ that was featured in Oprah magazine (2019), and was a finalist in the Atlantic Journalism Awards. We talked about how the podcast came about, what it means to be an investigative journalist, how she finds work, parenting during a pandemic and we go deep on how gender bias and racism impact our workplaces and society.

Cartoonist and Filmmaker, Josh Rodgers and I discuss his influences, working on kid friendly cartoons by day, and adult cartoons like Henry vs the Reptilian Overlords from the Cosmos by night. Josh also offers some career advice for animators and why he doesn’t think going to university is necessary.

Josh Online: