Self Portrait Photography Challenge
I did 25 of a 50 photo challenge. This was an online challenge set by someone called Clicks and Confetti.
Self Portrait: Surreal Photography
I loved experimenting with surrealist photography (winter 2025)
Creative Writing using a Substack newsletter
I’m trying out the platform Substack. Please subscribe to my creative writing newsletter on that platform. I will be posting snippets from a book I’m creating called Drip.Drip.Drip. This will be my summer 2026 project. Looking forward to showing it off this September!
This is my Substack handle @jd12272128
Smallruckus
Art & Design | Creativity or Bust
Hi! I’m an artist and designer based in Ottawa, Ontario, with a background in jewellery design from OCAD University in Toronto. My journey into illustration began unexpectedly in 2017, when I had extra time on my hands working as a part-time receptionist at a retirement home. What started as a creative outlet quickly grew into a passion for painting cheerful, watercolour worlds as well as a bit of abstract acrylic painting.
Today, I experiment with illustration, photography and creative writing. I love to create colourful and whimsical art cards that celebrate everyday magic, spark joy, and add a little wonder to the ordinary. I can’t get enough of surreal photography and my chosen writing style is existential absurdism.
Nostalgia at the One & Only Arts & Crafts Fair at the Sandy Hill Community Centre
The event was called the One and Only Craft Hill in Sandy Hill, and it was well attended. A former art teacher was there selling her creations. Yulia taught my watercolor class seven years ago at the Glebe Community Centre. I remember encouraging each student by...
Paying for Leadership: A Creative Writing Story about Leadership
I can remember a time when I was a supervisor of an event team at a conference. We were hired as ushers, managed booths, and we practically oozed hospitality and professionalism and were all around the total package. We were scheduled for a 14-hour day, which was...
Art in Strathcona Park – August 2024
This was my first year as a vendor at Art in Strathcona Park. I learned about the event from a local artist, The Ghost of Kat. The event is hosted by an organization called the Mental Illness Caregivers Association of Canada (MICA), which raises awareness for mental...
A Walk of Art Tour – Old Ottawa East Art Tour September 2024
It was a four-hour community event held on the lawn of our Old Ottawa East neighbour, Lorne. Art lovers came out to explore our neighborhood in search of great art and good company. I noticed two ladies walking by with large wine glasses filled with pink lemonade....
June 2023 Exhibition at Life of Pie with Curator and local legend Bhat Boy
Last June, I had the pleasure of meeting the famous Bhat Boy from Glebe. It was quite by accident. I had stumbled into The Life of Pie on Bank Street South and inquired about exhibiting my collection of abstract and whimsical florals. They informed me that Bhat Boy...
October 2023 Group Exhibition at the Happy Goat on Main Street
In October 2023, I had the pleasure of participating in a group exhibition at the Happy Goat on Main Street in Old Ottawa East. It was a wonderful event that featured wine and food. Approximately ten artists displayed their artwork on the walls and mingled with one...