Artist Statement

My name is Zen Rankin. I am a freelance Illustrator. I have been running my own freelance services company from my home for over 10 years. I have a breadth of experience with part-time instruction for over 10 years with various arts galleries/institutions and portfolio building schools, but more specifically working with schools to support their creative programs and endeavours. As a freelancer I am contracted to help solve various visual problems on behalf of my clients, which I translate directly to the classroom as a basis for any activity. I also help to build student portfolios to help prepare them for post-secondary art careers. I enjoy bringing art and creative expression to the learning process any way that I can. It is my calling to help unlock creative voice and/or potential in others. In my career I have made comics, helped develop video games and animated TV series, as well as taken part in entrepreneurial pursuits such as subscription box services and education of art students privately. I have worked on countless projects. Here are a few favourites: -Canadian History Comics, illustrated by students. -Art-directed a student run reconciliation magazine and YMCA native youth exchange program involvement which caught the attention of Canadian Parliament. -Real-life room-sized board games and activity rooms. -Rebranding of the school logo or mascot illustrations by committee, with entire school involvement. -School-wide fundraising with silk screening posters and t-shirts. Give me a shout. Let's work together.

Biography

Born in Toronto Ontario and raised in Whitby Ontario, Zen Rankin studied Illustration at Sheridan College. Encouraged at a young age, Zen began to draw from his early pop culture influences, comics, graphic novels, and video games. Eventually Zen began working as a freelance illustrator and comic artist. Today he creates introspective artwork exploring the limitations of the human condition. Colourful characters and vignettes are recurring theme of these works, which use a mixture of both traditional and digital media. Zen loves to teach with a focus on Social-Emotional Learning and self-management.