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Jen McGowan

Junior Arts Institute Instructor

Availability:

Bio

Jen McGowan is an artist, educator and caregiver situated in the unceded territories of the Coast Salish people, also known as Vancouver, Canada. She completed the MFA program at ECU in 2024. Her graduate work, Invisible Labour Loops, was published in the International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media and in Ecocene: Cappadocia Journal of Environmental Humanities. It was also presented at the 2025 Art in the Open Festival and the Universities Art Association of Canada conference. Jen previously earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia and a BFA from Concordia University in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. She has over 15 years of experience as an Animation, Film and Visual Arts instructor.

Research Interests

In her interdisciplinary practice, Jen lets each project determine the medium and often repurposes discarded detritus from childcare. Her work navigates lived maternal experience and the socio-political systems that weigh upon it. She is particularly focused on the exploitation of care labour that persists because of its benefit to capitalist patriarchy.

Courses

Course Name Department Course Code Term
Junior Art Institute CSJA 105 CS26/SU

Description

Bring characters to life, set scenes in motion and weave narratives that captivate audiences. Discover the combined power of illustration and animation to breathe life into your creative vision. Using traditional tools and media like pen and ink, gouache, and markers, this course encourages you to channel your imagination, discover inspiration, and convey emotions and ideas through illustration. Working independently and in groups, you will create a world full of characters, environments, and stories, brought to life frame-by-frame using stop-motion animation techniques and software. The skills acquired in illustration and animation are in high demand in today's creative industries, and can open doors to a wide range of future careers, from animation studios and graphic design agencies to film production companies and game development studios. Whether you're an aspiring animator, a budding illustrator, or simply exploring new ways of making, this course will set your imagination free. Guided by experienced instructors in the inspiring setting of Emily Carr University studios, you and your peers will experience a creative journey filled with exciting projects, prompts, and personalized feedback to nurture your artistic talents.

Pre-requisites

No prerequisites.