Alumni Spotlight: Janine Payne

Illustration alumni Janine Payne graduated from the Illustration diploma program in December 2023. She has been working as a freelance illustrator ever since. In the past year, Janine has taken on commission work, launched her online shop, and started attending markets where she sells her artwork and connects with other creatives.

During her time at Seneca, Janine specialized in both children’s and editorial illustration. She continues to build up her portfolio while also writing and illustrating her own children’s book in her spare time. 

Janine began experimenting with oil pastels, using bright colours to create daily illustrations inspired by her surroundings. She fell in love with the medium which has now become a key part of her style and practice. 

“I sort of attribute this [daily practice] to the launch of my online shop. Almost all of the work that I sell is illustrated using oil pastels.”

  

Janine has always thought about selling her artwork online, but she didn’t act on the idea until recently. She spontaneously decided to launch her shop with a few stickers and prints on the website she built in the program’s Website Development class. After running her online shop for a few months and growing her collection of work, Janine ventured into selling her illustrations at art markets.

“Working from home can feel quite isolating at times, so I started to look for ways that I could get out and engage with others. I wanted to grow my business, meet new people, and share my art and attending markets has been perfect for that. There’s something incredibly rewarding about meeting and engaging with those who connect with my work on a personal level. It’s helped me refine my style and understand what really resonates with others. I’ve also gotten to meet some really great people along the way and see my art go to amazing homes.”

Currently, Janine is preparing for upcoming markets happening in the next few months. She is beyond excited to attend the Toronto Artisan Market, the Toronto Art Crawl, and the Toronto Night Market as a vendor.

“I’m still very early into my career as an illustrator and there’s so much I have yet to learn, but I’m excited to see where this journey takes me!”

Images courtesy of Janine Payne

View more of Janine’s work here:  https://www.janinepayne.com/