Jillian (Ailsa) Thalman
I'm a Toronto-based illustrator, inspired by book ornamentation, folk art and iconography. My work is a playful take on classic themes - in particular anything dealing with magic and nature. I love to integrate symbols, symmetry and texture. I work in watercolour, pencil crayon, paper collage and digitally in Procreate.
Experienced with children's books, editorial and brand work - projects that touch on myth, nature or magic are among my favourites.
If you’re interested in working with me, I would love to hear from you! You can reach me at jillianthalman@gmail.com - or connect with me through Facebook or Instagram.
Press
Here are the 2025 Washington State Book Award finalists
(Seattle Times)
Children's author sets out to connect kids, families to ancestors and heritage through food
(Good Morning America)
Select Clients
![More very scientific notes on creativity ✏️
[Analog collage, ink- digital edits ]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/731357153_18608197822001442_4333563316714470079_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=t_-4sjSRgd0Q7kNvwF-MCot&_nc_oc=Ado5ylVHPcSZfMfYKkkr_fqveBkjW-boC4MKEoaRk1L1i7XCdwHkTSdxdGCM6Uz_fOU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=s00f3HykoGvG5IIppWTG_A&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQG0tCtbgSUeZ48bwCk3FOJH0afcdWMbTk8-qMyO7Et8DkXay-qcPwTy39okqag71lXULBsgrwjr&oh=00_AQCRuv2WKYxKTfOVVglnop8Fdoa3fncW7gQs45-EyRxqUQ&oe=6A4D7044)
![Image inspired by the tale of the Nimble Men and Merry Dancers (Wonder Tales, Scottish Myth and Legend - Donald Alexander Mackenzie).
[Ink on watercolour paper and digital edits]
#celticfolklore #scottishfolklore #wondertales #nimblemen #fairytaleillustration](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/730608431_18606671491001442_1689823955405564449_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=WrBI3lSN2aAQ7kNvwHTwRGc&_nc_oc=AdpKXndWs_mguTcW8q_oBBsMrkYrNHoWerXZmdlSWHJ9DRF-690_tQ9djU2hiIWdGwc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=s00f3HykoGvG5IIppWTG_A&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHvsRGzEHK9jv6unOobEJ3TEjNzQM0F1q7-emaLhPtdkjauikD1LLNM1ZGGIfD7NxP43pmp6F2I&oh=00_AQD-lCRpcqRcV45kohMJXUBt3TVm4VIHMgIYpMfkYqUKQw&oe=6A4D6A19)
![What does inspiration feel like to you? For me it feels like electricity, looking for a way out - it distracts me from the things I’m inevitably supposed to be doing. These images were floating in my brain this week, while I had a deadline - (impatiently) waiting for me to pay attention to them. So here they are - a quick collage and doodle. Out on paper ✨
[Analog collage, pencil crayon, ink, digital edits]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/730104267_18605957800001442_7106329870430366902_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=F22Cn-LsqWAQ7kNvwHkeXLE&_nc_oc=Adon0R4nzBWvH4nZ3dKmogCFbf0UVs9rCIh1CNC_smHckr9vIx6TeAJo0uP4J3kxWC8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=s00f3HykoGvG5IIppWTG_A&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGVVnkOaYyxei-J8pKMMfMJYfV7oWclGc56FxKPxLFutZMHdbEjgw-Dn2Zxn2dcANQ143nXCH74&oh=00_AQAOelZRF_ZFB-tPcyFdf0_yjq9xaPeiKEHXMGOs8vkleg&oe=6A4D8C43)
![An oldie from 2022 that never made it to the grid because I wasn’t sure if I liked it at the time. Sometimes I can’t see my work clearly - too close. Time does funny things to those perceptions. Does this happen to you?
(Now I think it’s cute!)
[Watercolour and digital drawing, Procreate]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/726337141_18603879391001442_7187211875346356221_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Eym5DNNafRUQ7kNvwEZJvi6&_nc_oc=AdopZvI6KPB3KTCS4rsBgxwQpQ3H4OMn_v1KhnT4jmWzUBgdPIIr04i9Gk957va0u1E&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=s00f3HykoGvG5IIppWTG_A&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQF4rjsrUaYmlktPjR8FHjXZ9d36pNM-6lDa1NGz7eEkITuBHl1aVSOrBx5snanSPLG4jXL0PduQ&oh=00_AQBez-BX3qUf8_ViPNXDhgCTjuc5F_Bc3roU76Ajb2peFg&oe=6A4D737D)
![Sending out a little love & luck today for whoever needs it 🩷🍀
Available as a greeting card in my Etsy shop ✉️
[Watercolour & paper collage, digital edits]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/721089622_18601541512001442_7545001246893816672_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=EuqNHtEmRw8Q7kNvwF9o8RK&_nc_oc=AdrnGrTrJJoHgem4Qak20tFqAp4qqfetKkielvx1MA6uchTYK3GIg-YyPyIrfSM_tDY&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=s00f3HykoGvG5IIppWTG_A&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEhPtG3HMcYGhprGfRGEUUAXTEsOHBEQUG6Ox8R4gSVk7DiGCoiRjGbjhPavAZlPdAdU0d2GzHR&oh=00_AQB6FkdZrmh-pFmhs2zI_8QSz6G0oYTIcf203mLVcyv4qA&oe=6A4D6F81)
