Who is McKinley Studios — the team behind the work.

Chapter 1: Shaela Tan and Bad Girl Studio

When did you start drawing / why did you start?

Long story short, my parents were not convinced of my interior design career choice, so they made me jump through the hoops of visual arts school before I was allowed to apply. Fortunately for me, this gave me a foundation, not only for illustration, but also for interior renderings and design as well.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration has always come from a reflection of myself, both literally and figuratively. I also believe that we create in the way we consume, meaning we are more than just one thing or one version of ourselves. My illustrations are often how I perceive the other versions of myself versus how I feel I am perceived. I love when people ask me if it’s actually me in the illustrations because it feels like we’re in on a secret together. In a time where we live both online and in real life, I’ve especially enjoyed blurring the two.

How do you incorporate your drawing into your work at McKinley Studios?

I am privileged to be able to work and create both digitally and by hand as a designer. A key part of my design process is to illustrate and sketch ideas before bringing them into a computer program - I find this allows me to create more freely without the permanence of the screen.

Fun Fact: Walker McKinley was the first person to purchase a print (before I had even thought about selling them four years ago), which now lives in the Wednesday Room in Calgary.

Boys At Home work done by Shaela Tan for Jonathon Smith