Holly Main - Comic & Illustration Blog

Please note, this blog has moved (officially!). For the latest updates and events, visit  www.hollymain.com  - or follow me on social media. Although I will no longer be posting here, the archive will still be available in case any of us want to look back down memory lane... Looking forward to connecting with you again soon!

This past weekend Carrier Budge and I took part in the Dion Winter Goose Chase Snowshoe Race! Carrier Budge was a proud sponsor again this year, donating draw prizes, custom thank you cards to be given to the race sponsors, as well as designing awards for the top finishers, featuring this wonderful snowshoe goose. I also took part in the race this year, trying out snowshoe running for the first time. Now I've run this sort of distance before, and have tried snowshoeing, but never the two combined. So I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was happy to discover I didn't have to alter my running too much to accommodate the snowshoes. One thing I did learn quickly is that there's no dragging your feet when you are tired, unless you want to fall on your face. The ice cleats almost got me a couple times. The course was 6.8k along the beautiful trails of Shades Mills Conservation Area. It was a challenging course, with rolling hills, but I made it through...

Each year I make it a point to create a new Christmas card for the season. This year I couldn't help but draw Santa Goat in a Christmas tree (Not sure how I haven't already done this one before haha) Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season filled with much love! - - - Here's another goat that's taking things to the next level... And more goats in trees blog posts: https://hmainillustrations.blogspot.ca/2012/12/amazing-goats.html https://hmainillustrations.blogspot.ca/2014/10/the-start-of-new-sketchbook.html

Happy 150th Canada! Thank you for being so wonderful ~ A page from the sketchbook above. Drawn first in pen and ink then scanned and coloured digitally.

Such a beautiful country that we live in.  This photo was taken in Muskoka, Ontario, near Honey Harbour. Just one of the many places where I have fallen in love with Canada's beauty. Islands made entirely of the Canadian Shield, surrounded by calm waters and those distinctive trees that the Group of Seven just loved to paint.  Absolutely beautiful. Happy 150th Canada! Thank you for being so amazing ~

Hey everyone! I'm finally on Instagram! Feel free to follow me @hollymain02 I look forward to connecting with you there!

This month in celebration of the new baby capybaras at the Toronto High Park Zoo, the Metro Newspaper held a MetroArtsChallenge to wish them a Capy Birthday with a hand drawn card. This was right up my alley, I couldn't help but take part with not only one illustration but two. Capy birthday Toronto! Can't wait to go visit the little guys! Original drawing in the sketchbook -- Gotta get that lettering just right! :) Check out all the entries at  http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/04/07/metro-arts-challenge-capybara-babies-birthday-toronto.html

Found this gem at Sears today. $2 (originally $4) The cashier asked me if it was from a TV show. Apparently she didn't grow up in the 90's...

A little hello from Dickie Dog

This weekend while back visiting my family for the long weekend, I helped clean out the attic a bit and discovered this grade school gem. A family portrait from the 90's complete with hamsters, headband and half pony tail. Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful time with family and friends. Happy Family Day! (I'm the one in the pink)

About a year ago today I started up my Facebook page for my comics and illustrations with a post celebrating the year of the Monkey. It has been a fun year and now it's time to celebrate the Rooster. Cheers to another great year ahead! Have fun all you roosters!

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2017 ahead!

Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

Just one more sleep. Happy holidays everyone!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 32nd annual Packaging Your Imagination conference this year held at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. The opening keynote was author and illustrator, Ashley Spires, who did a wonderful job welcoming everyone with that doubt and insecurity that lingers in all creators at one time or another. Using those "not-good-enoughs" to drive us forward and learning to use them for good instead of evil. "I will keep trying. I will keep learning. I will keep adapting and I will keep creating." Setting the day up perfectly for a day of learning ahead. There were so many great sessions to choose from but in the end I went with:  Judy Brunsek — Peeking Behind the Curtain: An Honest Look at Marketing Children's Books In session one, Judy Brunsek gave us an inside look at Marketing Children's Books with a wealth of information from her years in the industry. Marketing is like an ant hill, you see a bit go...

Makes me smile every time... Happy Wednesday!

Link:  https://vine.co/v/5gQPll1YziX

photo source: fatalapproach.com

Illustration in celebration of Centennial College's 50th Anniversary! This Tuesday, September 27th Centennial College marked its 50th anniversary by cancelling classes so that faculty, staff and students could "Paint the Town Green" Thousands of volunteers fanned out across the city to lend a hand in 11 major Toronto parks with a variety of "green" initiatives such as planting trees, spreading mulch, removing trash from waterways and nature trails, painting fixtures and beautifying public areas. I had the pleasure of heading to the Toronto Island to help with garbage removal at Ward's Island, near the Eastern Channel. Our team did a great job finding a lot of cans and plastic bottles for recycling, tucked away in the bushes. We lucked out with clear blue skies all day, a perfect day for wandering the island.  It was so nice seeing everyone in their green shirts, coming together for this initiative. A big congrats to Centennial for the success of...

Happy National Ice Cream Day! Here are a few great places to check out around the city http://www.edge.ca/2015/07/17/national-ice-cream-day/ Now time to go enjoy a cone :)