The Sponge has previously featured the fantastic work of James White and we are proud to support his latest piece which is helping to raise funds for the relief effort in Japan.

James has created a hauntingly simple image that reminds us of the fragile state Japan finds itself. While there has been a staggering outpouring of support for Japan during this crisis and several images to promote the relief fund, James’ “Help Japan” image is of the few which has left a lasting impact on minds worldwide.

Unfortunately, James has encountered some opposition to his image and his motives have been questioned in their sincerity. James does not need The Sponge to defend him, he is more than capable on his own, but we do support his efforts 100 percent. In the past we have lauded the colourful and engaging style of Signalnoise but this recent entry proves that sometimes the greatest impact is made with the simplest brushstroke. Raising awareness is not the purpose of this poster – it is the emotion it stirs within us. Visit James’ site to learn more about his fundraising efforts and remember that art has a function in society.

How many times have you said to yourself, “You know, I really need a great character design that’s whimsical and nostalgic”? Probably not very many times but should that thought ever cross your mind we think you should give Joel Duggan a call. I mean, if he can make a vomiting monster endearing, you know this guy has talent.

Stephen Gillis is that illustrator you can call and say, “Hey, I need a scene of unicyclists whose teeth spell their thoughts” and he’ll deliver. Above, “Sharp Shooter” displays his digital skills but visit his website to find out what the man can do with a ballpoint pen. Prepare to be astounded.

I don’t know why Mark Capello calls his website “Childish Paintings” because these are WAY better than anything I draw now. Seriously. Check out this samurai – it has awesome texture, rich colours and feels like it’s jumping off the page. Note: The Sponge does not condone the mysterious actions of neither ninja nor samurai.

It's almost Christmas! Jake and I really like t-shirts so when we discovered Fresh Prints on Agricola Street we knew we had to interview the team behind it. Nigel Lutes and the guys at Fresh Prints have been producing shirts for several years now but with the new boutique location, the business is developing further into a destination for finding (or making your own) unique prints. Check out the interview here.

There are cool sketches and then there are REALLY cool sketches. Tara Audibert falls under the latter category with her fantastic series on conjoined twin pin-up girls. At first glance you think, "What an interesting idea", and then on closer inspection you notice that Tara has thrown down some science by placing facts about conjoined births which then makes you think, "She would be the best science teacher ever”. 

What's better than looking at amazing design online? Looking at it in person, talking to the artists and being able to purchase the art for yourself! "Spectrum: An Art Show!" was a collaborative effort between Justin Lee, Nick Brunt, Jono Doiron, James Farrell and Mark MacAulay where each artist selected three colours in the spectrum to work with. From disjointed trees to happy kids in parkas, the guys did not disappoint and put together a fantastic show. Jake snapped these photos to give you a taste of what you missed. You may recognize Justin and Jono from previous Sponge posts and we're really excited to introduce Nick, James and Mark to you. Collaboration is an art form - great job guys.

So this short animation by Chris Darnbrough is incredible - just sayin'. The story of an imaginary friend is hardly new but the direction Chris follows is one that I have never seen before. For a short film, there is a lot to digest in terms of atmosphere, character and imagery. Be warned, this one is a potential tear jerker.

Hello friends! Jake and I are back with another interview with a great talent from Halifax. Matt MacKay is a graphic designer with an eye-catching style. Matt also has a great philosophy when it comes to design and is under no illusions about the fluid nature of the business. You can read more here or just ask us about Matt's work but we wrote the interview so maybe just save yourself some time and read it. Seriously, go ahead, it's good!

I'm excited every year for the Atlantic Film Festival but this one has something special. REALLY special. My friend and The Sponge co-founder, Jake Owens, has outdone himself yet again with his latest film "This 2". Shot entirely on green screen, Jake has pushed the limits of 3D animation delivering a film that is truly captivating. View the trailer on his website, Owens Productions, now and see "This 2" at the 30th Atlantic Film Festival. Congratulations Jake!

Halifax just keeps delivering amazing work. Gathering local hip hop dancers to create a commercial for Hopscotch Halifax, director Jonathan Brayer and cinematographer Kevin Fraser shot this beautiful piece in one day. The colours are amazing and Kevin's tight shots on movement serve to highlight talent and tease the audience at the same time. The use of close ups is perfect, expressing the talent and athleticism involved in hip hop rather; they focus and so we focus. I love how it starts with the movement of the spray paint, to the graffiti and transitions into the dancers. Great job guys.

What can we say about Joel MacKenzie? No, seriously, we’re honestly wondering. Joel’s artwork is so expressive that it makes our job easy and difficult at the same time. Usually we’d have a clever quip in here about his drawing being uncomfortably captivating or cute with a sinister smile but we think you’re going to figure that one out yourself.

Hey everyone, do you know our friend Joel LeLièvre? Oh. You don't? Well, now you do... once you read our July interview. So do it. NOW. Oh, and he worked on ''TRON''. I thought that might get your attention.

Ah, they grow up so fast. Check out Sponge alumi Jono Doiron's all new, all fancy, all awesome website. Remember that article we wrote about developing your own domain and identity? Jono, you're doing it right.

What’s great about Meghan Tansey Whitton’s photography? A lot of things like simplicity, humour, art direction, piercing stares and hearts with nails in them. Meghan’s photo site shows her flexibility and creativity shooting beautiful portraiture along side the forwardly philosophical nail heart. What ever the subject matter, Meghan makes it pop.

Looking through Ian Bourgault’s sketch blog, I see some good work. A lot of good work. Ian has a great animation style that can appeal to a wide audience. The backgrounds are lush and interesting, the characters are vibrant but not too animated – basically, everything works. Plus, that profile photo is quite dashing.

Do you like natural, effortless photography? We do, which is why we like Scott Munn. Having shot local musicians and tourism campaigns, Scott’s portfolio has great commercial appeal but his personal photos deserve some attention as well. Even in situations where the photo was a non-candid, planned shot, Scott captures a natural quality in his subjects that just make his photos relaxing.

Is it a bird? Is it a bee? Is it a super cute sketch? Created by Ed Beals, Birdbee is a plain fellow who's just trying to live his life. The originality and creativity of Beals' shines with the Birdbee series, taking simplistic illustration and combining it with thought provoking, layered satire. Oh, by the way, he's a super cute sketch - in case you couldn't figure that out.

You know that song, “’Cause you got to have friends…”? Well, it’s true but if The Art Friends ask you to hang out, dump your regular crew and never look back. Creating in tandem, Dan Helle and Dave Dick combine storyboard concepts and illustration in a weekly challenge to outdo one another. Feast your eyes on the mighty Cookbot and his five settings of adorable!

Another month, another interview! This time we interviewed...US! That's right, Jake & Anthony, fans of good design, functionality and sponges. After a fantastic first two months we wanted to take stock of what we've seen and heard, and provide some feedback on what we REALLY like...and what we would like to see.
Read it here

While there may be many photographers who specialize in baby/maternity photos, Tanya Shields direction sets her apart from her peers. I can’t imagine it’s easy to give direction to a baby or toddler but Tanya makes it work and has a portfolio of funny and heartfelt photos that are guaranteed to make anyone smile.

Meet David Thomson. Now, meet David Thomson’s robots. David is an animator with an amazing talent for 3D design. His collection of futuristic spacecraft and robotic designs is very impressive in scope and detail. Each model is cinematic with vivid colour that we can’t get enough of. Basically, what we’re saying is, we like his stuff; and you should too.

From the beginning we said that our mission was to showcase the best examples of visual design from Atlantic Canada. Kyla Francis is making our job really easy. Combining graphic design, screen printing and ceramics, Kyla’s creations like the cups pictured above are just what you need to make your next social event awesome – and your friends jealous.

There are a lot of cool things about Prince Edward Island: Victoria Row, potatoes, Tyler Landry. An art director with a talent for illustration and graphic design, Tyler’s website is filled with awesome examples of his work. We feel the poster series he created for the Peake Street Studio in Charlottetown are perfect, using a simple monochrome palette with eye catching design.

Have you checked out Marketing Magazine lately? We think you should, it's a great resource for the latest marketing and media news in Canada. Oh, and they featured The Sponge.

That's us!

In a recent article, "This Great Digital Land", The Sponge was included in the company of other great Canadian websites that promote creativity and design. Our mission when we began was to become a platform for talent in Atlantic Canada, in the hope that our amazing local designers would receive the recognition they deserve. We would like to thank Marketing Magazine for recognizing our efforts and the talent that we've been privileged to showcase. Thank you!

I feel like calling James Ingram's work photography does not do justice. His photos are gorgeous and his manipulations only add to their effect. James' work is incredibly versatile, easily transitioning from commercial to personal use. Whether it's a portrait or a landscape, James' photos are beautiful and eye catching.

What does Colleen MacIssac have to offer? A varied portfolio of illustration, that’s what! But seriously, Colleen’s work has a quirky, Victorian attitude that is immediately endearing. Her website spans comics, painting and illustration, which is what we found most appealing. We chose the whale image above because as odd as it is, it’s still accessible and engaging. That’s great design.

What makes any photo better? Giant, squishy monsters. Who can make photos better? Justin Porter. Working in animation and graphic design, Justin has a pretty impressive portfolio but his “Art Invasion” pieces really caught our attention. Blending illustration with photography, Justin creates surreal, funny images with some iconic images and delightful creatures.

They say it’s all about the finer details. We say, it’s all about Thomas Bradnam’s work. His illustration style has so much depth, the characters come alive when you look at them. This is a great example: take a look at Mogie the Monkey. Now. Thank you.

Hooray for photographers! A little tongue in cheek, a little whimsical and a lot of polish have landed Riley Smith’s work on the cover of The Coast. His consistent style choices from lighting to colour produce some quality photographs.

OK, we love illustration that makes us laugh, so naturally we’re fans of Ben Durrell. Ben’s drawings have this dry, awkward sense of humour that really make them stand out. A bunny octopus? That just sounds ridiculous…and it is. Ridiculously funny. I like this guy.

You won't find many designers like Blythe Church. You probably wouldn't find many hand sewn cameras or radios either. Blythe's work includes stuffed monsters, cameras and even a gumball machine. If you have it, she'll sew you a copy. Maybe she can sew me an iPad...

We've featured a lot of character driven illustrators and Jaison Simmons is definitely a great example of that. However, the background samples on his website are exceptional. Lush and full of character themselves, we think Jaison's backgrounds deserve some attention.

There's something eerie about that blue door. Laura Campbell has a portfolio that covers web and graphic design but her photography captured our attention. There are some haunting images of industrial decay contrasted with vibrant shots of nature that basically forced us to feature her work.

Anne-Renee Dumont creates illustrations that vary across the board. There are some really touching pieces and some that are just super cute and funny. Check out that beat breaking star: it's so happy! Her work makes me happy!

When you say the name Mike Holmes in Halifax, “Oh yeah, he draws cartoons for The Coast!” is usually the first response. Yes, he does indeed but there is more to Mike than comic strips. His posters for events in around Halifax show a fun, colourful style and Mike’s eye for functional design. You’ve got pop art and Saul Bass influences along with a wizard battling a dragon to promote a local show. Try and tell me that’s not amazing.

Craig Pitman has an amazing collection of work but his Vector gallery is ridiculous. Some of these cars are so close to photograph quality it's hurting my head thinking about the time he's put into them. Craig's paintings are also pretty amazing, I can't begin to imagine the kind of patience he has.

Our May Interview is with Scott MacDonald and we're pretty happy about that. Scott's work has primarily been in animation and character design but after speaking with him, we can't wait to see him move into print work. Read more about Scott here and fall in love with his work like we did.

Smokey, say it ain’t so! Jono Doiron’s work with classic cartoon characters is really cool; his Hanna-Barbera inspiration is instantly attractive. Aside from being a great painting, his Smokey the Bear piece has an environmental edge that might be more effective than Smokey’s original message. You’ve entertained me AND made me think. Awesome.

Check out that first image. I’d like to say it punches you in the face but I try to shy away from the obvious. That being said, Angela Rabideau’s work punches you in the face. I’ve said it before, this is everything I love about graphic design: clean lines, contrast but a willingness to play around with her style.

Mirco Chen’s coffee sleeves might be the best way to start your day. I like when artists use everyday material to create their art. Mirco also details where he finds his inspiration which is really cool too and makes my job a lot easier. Great, now I have to start drawing funny cartoons...

I love comics. I love Faith Erin Hicks. Coincidence? You know you’ve got a good artist on your hands when just one panel makes you think for HOURS. Where did she get that spork? Is that her weapon of choice? Where did all these zombies come from? Why am I asking all these questions? Oh right, because this stuff is cool.

Shane Whitehouse is a great example of clean, functional and beautiful design. With great pieces of graphic design like the pigeon photo above, even his website could be featured on its own. If that doesn’t grab your attention, he was a playback motion graphic artist for season 2 of Stargate: Atlantis – awesome!

Ray Fenwick’s work is great and probably recognizable to you. He’s created illustrations for some impressive clients but have you checked out his patterns? They’re so detailed and intricate that I have an awesome headache...a headache that’s awesome….sweet?

Our April Interview is Alexandria Neonakis. Alexandria is an illustrator inspired by the animation houses of the 1950s. If this picture of the fox and hare doesn’t make you smile, you’re a monster. Check out The Sponge's exclusive interview. You get to look at art and read about the artist – can you ask for more?

At first I thought it was premature for Kevin Fraser to say on his website that he’s your best friend. Until I watched his demo. Kevin’s cinematography is gorgeous, thought provoking and makes you want to be his friend. He seems like a nice guy too.

Unbelievable. That’s all I can say about James White. Well, I could say more but I’d rather let his work speak for itself and trust me, it can. Living out loud.

I've seen a lot of wedding photography, we all have, but these photos raise the bar. Heather Gionet's company "This is Photography" has an extensive collection of absolutely gorgeous wedding shots along with other great photos outside the wedding world.

Nick Rudnicki has some really great photography in his extensive gallery but what really impressed us was his photo retouching gallery. These are way better than your average before and after shots as he shows the intermediate process he took to accomplish the final shot. Sweet.

It’s really cool when you get to see the process a designer works through to get a finished product. Matthew Carleton’s work has a classic feel and his work for Advance Commissions lays out his inspirations and concept for this identity package from start to finish.

When Jake Owens at Hatch Animation was given creative control for “The Molly Appeal” video, the inspiration flowed. This animation is a stunning depiction of how starting small can grow into something huge. Using After Effects, Jake has created a beautiful video to raise awareness for a worthy cause.

What makes Mallory Glenn cool? She uses people as her canvas. Her website is titled “Mallory Glenn: Hair & Makeup” but we think her concepts go further than that description. From stylish editorial to beautifully simple, Mallory’s work is one of a kind.

Oh Justin Lee, you always know how to make us laugh. Consistently delivering crazy, stylized work, Justin Lee’s paintings / illustrations are guaranteed to make you smile.

When I first moved to Halifax it was Yo Rodeo’s work that I associated with the local arts scene. Years later, I still feel that connection. Their most recent screenprint series “Block Party” depict pack-rat collections of everything from people to buildings to food morphed into cubes. mmmm…cubes…