About Joan Krygsman

I love this quote..

“I get the same charge from juxtaposition of colours as I do from juxtaposition of chords.” - Joni Mitchell

Artist, writer, performer. My brain and voice and fingers seesaw between focus and exploration. I play with context and juxtaposition. I strive to balance sincerity with satire. Appose whimsy with murk. I want to create impossible and random tableaus, and then leave them sitting quietly in ordinary daylight.

I studied at the Ontario College of Art, and I live and work in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. I specialize in animal illustrations for children’s books and work in a variety of media : primarily digital, but also ink, collage and paint.

I create illustrations for books, posters, magazines, print advertising, and online marketing, and I am available for all types of commissions and projects.

I also write and illustrate books, and write and perform music (for both little and big people).

CV

Education

1991 : Ontario College of Art : New Media Program

Exhibitions

2011 : Heart of the Hammer : Solo Show
2011 : Homegrown Hamilton : Solo Show + Launch of Esther and the Avocado Tree
2011 : McMaster Innovation Park : Art in the Workplace : Group Show
2012 : McMaster Innovation Park : Art in the Workplace : Group Show
2013 : McMaster Innovation Park : Art in the Workplace : Group Show
2014 : McMaster Innovation Park : Art in the Workplace : Group Show
2014 : Wilson Street Farmer’s Market : Group Show
2015 : The Staircase Theatre : Dream Series I : Solo Show
2016 : Homegrown Hamilton : Dream Series II : Solo Show
2017 : Birchway Sound : Dream Series III : Solo Show
2018 : The Staircase Theatre : Portraits : Solo Show

Publications

2011 : Esther and the Avocado Tree by Joan Krygsman (written + hand-drawn illustrations)
2012 : Ernesto the Armadillo by Joan Krygsman and Brent Barber (written + recorded + digital illustrations)
2012 : Ned the Nitpicker by Joan Krygsman (written + recorded + digital illustrations)
2013 : Hank the Owl by Joan Krygsman (written + recorded + digital illustrations)
2013 : Jungle Valley Jamboree by Lynne Kittredge Fox (hand-drawn illustrations)
2013 : Rosa Rose by Robert Priest (hand-drawn illustrations)
2014 : Owl on the Prowl by Lynne Kittredge Fox (illustrations)
2014 : The Little Blue Elephant by Joan Krygsman (written + recorded + digital illustrations)
2014 : Unleashed by Eileen Quinn : Harlequin Mysteries (digital cover art)
2015 : ABC Groovy by Lynne Kittredge Fox (digital illustrations)
2015 : Muzzled by Eileen Quinn : Harlequin Mysteries (digital cover art)
2016 : Watermelon Tummy by Lynne Kittredge Fox (digital illustrations)
2017 : The Wolf is Back by Robert Priest (hand-drawn illustrations)