About Me
Hi there! I’m Sophie, a 16-year-old traditional artist from New Brunswick, Canada. I work with watercolour, charcoal, graphite, and gouache—but I can’t pick a favourite!
My dream is to become a children’s book illustrator.
I grew up acting and singing, first performing on stage with my family’s band. Later, I had the incredible opportunity to act professionally at the Stratford Festival and even in a Hallmark movie!
A funny story about how I really got into art happened on that movie set. One of the makeup artists showed me a trick—how to turn the word “boy” into a doodle of a man. It was just a simple drawing, but nine-year-old me was mesmerized. My mom says the moment that lady showed me the trick, she saw my face light up. She knew sketching was going to be my thing from that moment on. You could just tell, I was hooked! She mentally let out a loud “NOOOoooOOOO!”— realizing that being a little movie star wasn’t my future after all! Haha.
I also loved comic books as a kid, especially Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes.
This year, my goal is to take big steps toward my dream of illustrating a book—while completing art courses, singing, homeschooling and filling multiple sketchbooks along the way!
The Sketch that Started it All
From Stage Lights to Sketchbooks
Photos from when I was at Stratford Festival Theatre (2016) &
the Christmas Connection Hallmark Movie (2017)
Sketches, Supplies & My
Creative Space
This is where I like to work on my art! I love my wood desk and my room.
A well-organized studio or desk setup makes such a difference for an artist! My workspace is in my bedroom, where I have a sturdy wooden desk, some shelves, and a little blue trolley to store my supplies. I love that trolley because I can wheel it around and grab what I need without even getting up!
One of my shelves holds all my sketchbooks, from my very first one to the most recent. I’ve completed 15 sketchbooks and am now working on my 16th! Keeping a sketchbook is so important if you want to track your progress. Looking back at older pages helps me see how much I’ve improved and what I still need to work on. Decorating my room with my art also keeps me inspired and motivated.
I have an amazing collection of art supplies, including markers, watercolours, gouache, pens, pencils, coloured pencils, and charcoal!
- Watercolours – I love using Winsor & Newton watercolours. They’re high quality yet still affordable, and I mostly work with them.
- Gouache – I recently started using HIMI Gouache, and it’s been a lot of fun. They’re one of the most affordable gouache brands—not the highest quality, but perfect for experimenting.
- Markers – My first real art medium was Ohuhu alcohol markers! I don’t use them as much now, but I still LOVE them. If you’re interested in markers, I highly recommend Ohuhu—they blend beautifully and have such vibrant colours.
- Charcoal & Graphite – I often use charcoal or graphite for portraits. I don’t have a favourite brand, but I love doing value studies with them. Working in black and white limits your options, which makes it a great challenge.
Having a creative space that feels pretty and functional makes all the difference. Whether I’m sketching in my 16th sketchbook, experimenting with a new medium, or just admiring past work on my walls, my studio is a space where I enjoy working and where my ideas come to life.
