Whether you know it or not, you’ve seen the artwork of education alumnus Jason Blower (’03 BEd).
Well-known for his illustrations of Edmonton landmarks, Blower’s work has graced the pages of magazines such as Avenue, Alberta Venture, and Today’s Parent. He’s provided the visual flair for promotional campaigns for organizations such as the Alberta SPCA, and he is also the creative mind behind the new Lululemon storefront in Edmonton’s Southgate Centre mall.
On top of his commercial work and commissioned artworks for the likes of the Varscona Theatre and the University of Alberta, Blower pursues his own creative projects. Most recently, he created an activity book for kids called Hello #YEG, putting his bachelor of education degree to good use.
Written for the kindergarten to Grade 3 crowd, Hello #YEG teaches children about Edmonton’s history and landmarks, while incorporating concepts from the Alberta Education curriculum. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the book is now available for sale at Chapters and Indigo book stores, and online at www.jasonblower.com.
For all of his success now, Blower didn’t grow up with artistic ambitions. In fact, he started off in the Faculty of Education pursuing a BEd in elementary education because he’d always enjoyed spending time with kids. He then switched to the secondary education route (art major and math minor), but always with the goal of being a classroom teacher.
It was only later that Blower pursued additional art training—and ultimately, a career as a self-employed illustrator.
With business booming and Hello #YEG literally coming off the presses, illuminate sat down with Blower to talk about his career trajectory and how his education degree informs his work.
What led you to study education at the UAlberta?
I’ve always been kid oriented. Even when I was a kid, I played with the little kids. In fact, I was a young babysitter—very few boys I knew did that.
So, when I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life, I liked the idea of working with kids. And since I hadn’t had a good experience with my art teacher in high school, I thought maybe I can give other kids a better experience by becoming a teacher myself.
Did you ever use your degree to teach?
In the early 2000s, there were a lot of cuts being made in education and because of the funding situation, I couldn’t go naturally into the career I thought I’d be going into.
You’ve said that your whimsical artwork is inspired by your father’s “big fish” stories. Can you share a few of them?
My father once claimed to be an alien from another planet. Driving on the highway, he’d point out these oil industry vessels and say, “My space brothers haven’t left the planet yet.”
In the winter, he’d say, “Watch out for snow alligators!” We didn’t have a fenced yard at the time, so I think that was Dad’s tactic to keep us from going too far from the house.
You’ve described your perspective on life as “sunshine and lollipops.” Do you have a dark side?
I guess if you went back to my sketch books from different times in my life you’d find maybe not dark stuff, but more emotional stuff. I’m a glass-is-half-full guy.
This year, all UAlberta grads are receiving one of your prints as a gift from the Alumni Association. How did that come about?
This year is the [Alumni Association’s] centennial, and I was commissioned to create an illustration they’d use as a print to give out at convocation. Everyone got an 8-by-10-inch copy. For Edmonton students, I did a print of North Campus—just the core buildings—and Augustana students got a print of the Founders’ Hall.
What do you like most about your career now?
Working as a freelance illustrator, I’m able to balance working on projects for clients and projects that I want to make. It is a good balance of paycheque to creative expression.
What are some of your aspirations right now, as a freelance illustrator?
Within my own illustration work, I’m building brands around history and Edmonton culture. I just want to keep making what I want to make—that’s why I focus so much on my own jobs and my own work.
Any pie-in-the-sky ambitions?
I think it’d be really cool to have my own book section in a book store one day, like Dr. Seuss.
Does your education degree inform your work now?
I think it does, because the more I build brands towards teaching history or Edmonton culture, I’m constantly thinking about how kids will see or absorb this. And I don’t have to guess about how teachers will use what I’m making. I have some experience, so I have a good idea.