My name is Gillian Dykstra, and I’m a Toronto based illustrator, artist, designer, and storyteller. I am a graduate of OCAD University in the Bachelor’s of Design with a major in Illustration program. I work in a variety of media, including acrylic gouache, inks, watercolour, pencils, and digital media, but my favourite media is acrylic gouache. I love to create new worlds with my illustrations, exploring new adventures, representing the world and the people around me, and creating new whimsical realities to escape into.
I also have a passion for children’s arts education and I love to teach! For me, teaching art to kids and creating artwork for kids go hand in hand, and I always find that they end up teaching me something too. Getting to know kids is one of the best ways to get to know what they like! I hope to inspire the next generation to dream big, create freely, and express themselves.