Mentorship

Are you ready to turn your artistic dreams into reality? Do you have an idea in your head that you just can’t get onto the page? As an artist with over a decade of experience in the animation industry and more than six years of teaching, I know what it takes to bring ideas to life. I’m so passionate about helping you build those skills that I even wrote a book on how to draw! Let me help you make your imagination come to life with your art.

I’ve had the pleasure of working on projects for major studios like Disney, Dreamworks, and Netflix. My teaching experience at the college level has given me a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in the creative world. I’ve helped my students have launch careers as professional animators, background artists, and storyboard artists. Whether you’re a beginner or an aspiring professional, I’ll provide you with the tools you need to create art you’ll love.

My Mentorship Approach

I believe the best way to learn to make art is by doing it. My mentorship is designed to give you specific exercises and challenges that push you out of your comfort zone, while also providing you with the support and knowledge you need to succeed.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

Build fundamental drawing skills: We’ll master essential concepts like perspective, lighting, and anatomy, giving you the power to bring your ideas to life.
Create art that feels like a window into another world: My focus is on helping you draw from your imagination, transforming simple lines and shapes into captivating characters and settings.
Apply your skills to any creative field: The skills you learn with me are versatile and can be applied to any project whether you’re interested in animation, illustration, graphic novels, or storyboards.
Get personalized feedback and support: I’ll work with you to find and fix your sticking points to ensure steady progress. I’ll tailor our sessions to your goals and interests, keeping you engaged and motivated.
Build an eye-catching portfolio: I know what skills both studios and schools look for. I’ll help you develop and showcase those skills so your work will stand out from the crowd.

My genuine enthusiasm for art is contagious. I love this stuff, and I get people hyped about art! Let’s get to work on making your art as amazing as your ideas.

My rate is $50 Canadian per hour. Most students choose to meet with me for one hour per week, and this is enough to see steady progress (as long as you do the work between meetings). However, we can meet more often or less often if you’d like.

Ready to start your artistic journey? Book your free mentorship session today and take the first step towards reaching your art goals. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions.

Testimonials

John Guy has been tutoring my 13-year-old son, Julian, in animation for the past few years, and the impact has been remarkable. Under John’s guidance, I’ve watched Julian blossom in both confidence and skill – his drawing ability is now well ahead of his years. John has introduced him to advanced techniques such as shading, perspective, and character design, helping him develop a depth and polish that’s rare for his age. More importantly, Julian absolutely loves working with John. His enthusiasm for each session is contagious, and it’s clear that John has a special talent for inspiring and bringing out the best in his students. We’re so grateful for the creativity, patience, and expertise John brings to every lesson, and Julian is excited to continue learning from him for the foreseeable future. -Will

John was my instructor for, and his teaching completely changed how I see drawing and perspective. He had a way of breaking down tricky perspective concepts into clear, simple steps that actually made sense. His classes didn’t just improve my technical skills, they also gave me a stronger sense of visual storytelling, which I use every day as a background artist in the animation industry. The way he explained things stuck with me, and I still find myself using his methods when I tackle complex scenes. –Mandar

John was my Perspective and Storyboard teacher. He made learning both engaging and approachable. Breaking down complex concepts into clear simple steps, guiding us through in-class exercises, and giving thoughtful, constructive feedback that really helped me improve. What I appreciate most about John is how much he genuinely care about his students’ growth. He’s not only highly knowledgeable from his own industry experience, but he’s also constantly learning and generously sharing free resources to help others succeed. Thanks to the skills I learned in his class, I was able to land a job in the animation industry as a Background Layout Artist. Specifically, his lessons on cube rotation and room construction have been invaluable, because those exercises gave me the ability to confidently draw spaces from any angle, which I now use daily in my work. I’m truly grateful for the foundation he helped me build, and highly recommend him to anyone who wants to take their drawing skills to the next level. –Christina