Jackie Stafford’s friendly animal and human characters entertain and educate kids by way of picture books, games, magazine illustrations, and promotional materials for a long list of clients. They include Scholastic Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Disney, Gymboree, Nestle, and Kraft. Her most recent work is digitally executed, but her portfolio also includes watercolor work, and from her early years, three-dimensional character art. On top of all this, she also makes jewelry. Stafford studied illustration at OCAD University in Toronto. She currently lives on a farm in Ontario, Canada, and corrals a motley pack of horses, donkeys, dogs and cats while she isn’t creating art in her studio. We’re so thankful she took the time to answer our questions, below!
What percentage of your illustration process relies on technology? 80%
What applications do you use? Illustrator
What digital tool would you never want to do without? Wacom Cintiq
What is your favorite aspect of using technology in illustration? I can alter my work and play with it as much as I want without having to re-do it over and over again.
What projects in the children’s market are you currently working on and how do you plan to incorporate technology? I’m working for several UK publishers on educational projects, plus some children’s magazine work right now.
