For those who haven’t met me yet, I’m Malvika Agarwal, one of the Research Assistants working alongside Tesni, Rajat, and Paolo. I am a PhD candidate at Western University. In my research, I work with young children and am interested in sonic forms of analysis. I prefer drawing and creating art over writing, but I’ve recently discovered a growing love for the written form. The zine conversation series for me is an opportunity to further explore this form in a different way. I approach this project with a passion for communicating and engaging in dialogue in alternative ways, queering the outcomes of these conversations. I’m excited to explore how we will take this up through the creation of zines.

In our role as RA, we’re primarily here to provide technical support in creating the zines and to think conceptually about what zines do, demand, and afford.

I'm really looking forward to this project and seeing what everyone creates.

I live on Snuneymuxw Territory, colonially known as Gabriola Island. I run a fully outdoor preschool and school age (4-7) program here, in addition to stewarding land where I live as a small farm. I am also currently doing my masters at UNB. I though I would share one of my assignments I recently submitted on Queer Theory that I presented as a zine.

From an early age, I noticed social inequalities in the world surrounding me. This awareness inclined me to strive to treat everyone, human and not, with dignity and respect.

In 2009, I relocated to the unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Lil̓wat7úl, Tsleil-Waututh, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm nations. Coming from a line of Euro white settlers, I walk on these lands with unfair privileges infused by colonialism. I seek to educate myself, heal, and reconcile.

In efforts to challenge the adult-centric society we live in, I completed a bachelor degree in Early Child Care and Education at Capilano University. I am thankful to join this collective seeking create dialogues through esthetic and thought provoking materials.

On my spare time, you can find me sliding down snowy slopes, walking my dear darling puppy, gardening, cooking, enjoying music, or in the forest.

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I work with children and other creative people making projects that sometimes turn into videos, GIFs, performances, publications, stories, memories, films, and other technological objects. For the past few years I've been creating anti-colonial animist inquiry projects with public school iPads and children through the AIRS Program and ArtStarts in Schools. You can peek at some of these projects on my website: https://www.alyshaseriani.com/

Some other side projects of mine include working at an outdoor school, working with artists, hosting online vigils, and learning scottish gaelic.

Looking forward to making and sharing zines with you all!

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Child Studies and Social Work at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. I teach primarily in the Early Learning and Child Care Program.

I’m excited to participate as a zine creator, fostering dialogue and engaging with other contributors and readers. I look forward to the conversations that will emerge.

Zoom in: Pick an area in this image. A small, intriguing detail. Square crop the photo to isolate this fragment, focusing on textures, edges, or colors.

Draw and study: Treat this as a detail study, tracing or hand-drawing the cropped section. Repeat regularly to create a collection of micro studies, like a swatch library of textures and techniques for your zine. Try re-drawing, collaging paper cutting, knitting or even digitally recreating this same section with different materials.

The idea is to create a swatch library of textures, contours, colours and compositions that you might lean on once you begin thumbnails/prototypes for your zines.

2. Take successive photos: Capture the subject as it moves through the frame, keeping the background unchanged.

3. Trace the movement: Layer the photos and trace the subject in each frame onto a single sheet to show its path over time.

Or

Print each photo and cut out the subject and collage them together to to show its movement over time.

Or

Position all photos onto a single document by scaling them down so multiple images fit on a single piece of paper and using a marker rotoscope out the subject leaving the background in view with the subject now empty space that moves with time.

Once you have a clear idea, break it down into smaller steps and begin to build it out in Photoshop:

1. Sketch Your Concept: Begin with a rough sketch or notes to map out your idea. Even a simple doodle can help guide your design. You may choose to do more than 1 of these. Iteration is part of the process. 

2. Set Up Your Canvas: Create your Photoshop file with the appropriate dimensions and resolution for print or digital use. (See the workshop recording for how to do this)

3. Work in Layers: Use layers to separate different elements of your design, like backgrounds, text, and images. This makes it easier to experiment and refine individual components.

4. Experiment and Adjust: Play with tools like Brushes, Blending Options, or Effects to explore your ideas. Don’t hesitate to try out multiple versions or make changes as you go. For more tools to try navigate to the last slide in the workshop there are tool recommendations, tutorials and manuals you might find helpful.

5. Iterate Step by Step: Build your design gradually. Start with the foundational elements—like background textures or key images—and layer additional details, such as text, highlights, or effects.

6. If stuck book a 1:1 with Tesni or Malvika

There are links to adobe resources available at the end of the workshop 2 slides, where you can learn more about each tool mentioned above. You will find them on the Zine creators website. You can find the link by scrolling through this padlet or in emails send by Paolo.

Remember, creating in Photoshop is a process of exploration, making tonnes of mistakes and finding your way somehow. There’s no better way to start than simply diving in, getting lost, and finding your way back.

My name is Kathryn - you can call me Kat! I am a hybrid Aussie-Canadian, growing up on Boonwurrung Country in south-east Australia and immigrating to Treaty 6 in Saskatoon, Canada in 2015. I now reside in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewak, Dakota Oyate, and Dene and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

I am an Assistant Professor in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, researching and teaching at the nexus of physical education and movement, health & wellbeing, and place and outdoor education. I am very passionate about more-than-human and relational pedagogies through an anticolonial praxis for social and ecological justice and flourishing.

My previous involvement with zines has been as a teaching and learning practice with pre-service teachers through collaborative zine making. But only with paper, watercolor, magazines, scissors, and tape, so I am super excited to delve into zine creation with Photoshop!