Q: What are some of your favorite things about living and working in Oakville, Ontario?

A: I am originally from London, Ontario, and am currently living in Oakville, getting my certificate in Web Design at Sheridan College. My favorite thing about where I live now are all the well-maintained trails through the forests surrounding my apartment. It’s a great place to escape from all the hustle and bustle of the city, and I can enjoy all the nature without fear of tripping over tree roots and rocks.

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between the art you create on paper versus in the computer?

A: I carry around a little pocket-sized sketchbook for doodling, stealth sketching, and writing down ideas. I find the smaller the sketchbook, the less precious it is, so I’m not afraid to make terrible artwork and write down silly ideas. I also doodle on my computer, but I find this practice leads to more bad ideas being fully executed. All my finished artwork is digital, but the sketchbook acts as a buffer to help me from working up weak ideas.

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: My desktop computer. It’s my all-in-one inspiration, art making, email-writing machine. I’m a 20-programs-open-at-once kind of person, so I greatly appreciate/respect my desktops power. Sorry, laptop.

Q: What do you like best about your workspace?

A: I love the sheer amount of desk space I have in my studio. I’ve seen what my friends have to work with, so I don’t take my space for granted. 

Do you think it needs improvement, if so, what would you change?

The one item I really need to invest in is a good studio chair. I swear my posture is getting worse by the day.

Q: How do you know when the art is finished?

A: When I think my artwork is finished, I print it off in black and white and highlight any mistakes/sloppy spots. I then go back, making changes, and repeat the cycle until there is nothing left to highlight.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child? What is the best book you’ve recently read?

A: I cannot recall any one book reigning king, but I remember absolutely loving The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, and the entire Calvin and Hobbes collection by Bill Watterson.

As for recent books, my favourite would have to be The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: Defiantly digital, you just can’t beat that ctrl z! Plus technology has come a long way, and you can fake other mediums with relative ease while keeping your hands clean.

Q: If you could time travel to any era, any place, where would you go?

A: Whenever the Google car last travelled through suburban Tokyo. I spent hours travelling down those little roads and was positively smitten. I’d love to visit those roads on that day they were shot and explore the area. Everything in Canada is so far apart and isolated, so I find it really interesting to see how people transform their little plots of land to make it their own.

Q: What is preoccupying you at the moment?

A: My web design projects. They’re very interesting and rewarding, but also So. Much. Work. I have gained so much respect for web designers who able to make sites that are both user-friendly and visually stunning. It sure ain’t easy.

Q: What are some of your favorite places/books/blogs/websites for inspiration?

A: Google Maps, Houzz, the Noun Project, Dribbble, Behanced, Instagram, Tumblr, to name a few.

Q: What was the [Thunderbolt] painting or drawing or film or otherwise that most affected your approach to art?

A: I’ve always enjoyed Brian Rea’s illustrations for the Modern Love [NY Times] series. I think those images inspired me to put more emphasis on the ideas behind the images rather than the technical execution. I strive to create images people can relate to, and (hopefully) react to.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: A very large, very spicy burrito. The spiciness would really put me in the moment, and consuming it would feel like an eternity.

Sarony Blacklock is an illustrator and web design student based in Ontario, Canada. She is currently in the midst of earning her certificate in web design and will be graduating in the spring. She has created illustrations for the National Post and the Circuit, and still makes time to take on freelance commissions when available.

Website – http://saronyblacklock.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saronyb/

tumblr - http://saronyblacklock.tumblr.com/

twitter - https://twitter.com/saronyblacklock