The Creative Journey of Shayne Letain: From Analog to Digital Illustration
A Lunchtime Inspiration
On March 20, 2025, illustrator and IDEA School of Design instructor Shayne Letain settled into an intimate lunch-hour talk, organized by James Neufeld for IDEA's in-person “Detention” blog team. As students ate their lunch, Shayne flipped through portfolio pieces—each piece a timestamp from his over 30-year career.
“This one got me my first agent,” he said, pointing to a pastel illustration. “And this one? The Vancouver Grizzlies paid me to make it in 1995—back when nobody trusted digital art.” The students leaned in. Here was a living archive of illustration’s evolution.
This was Shayne in his element: part storyteller, part mentor, bridging generations of artists. And his own story? It began long before this classroom...
“If you’re asked by a client to do something you’ve not done before, say yes and figure it out later.”
Early Beginnings and Education
Shayne Letain knew from an early age that he wanted to be an illustrator. At 14, he was inspired by Bill Nelson's book Finishing the Hat. “He had a way with stylized realism that felt cinematic,” he recalled. He pursued formal training at Capilano University’s Graphic Design and Illustration (GDI) program starting in 1991, just as the desktop computer had completely revolutionized the way illustrators and graphic designers worked.
“At that time, only three computers were shared among 60 students. Instructors like Kiff Holland and Fred Forester provided a strong grounding in the fundamentals of art and illustration but couldn’t begin to make sense of working digitally. None of the faculty, including the design instructors, had any idea of how they worked either. But we were graduating into an industry demanding those skills.”
Among Shayne’s classmates at the time, one would later become a celebrated underground artist creating gig posters for his punk band, while another would become the lead designer at Image Comics. Shayne leaned toward commercial illustration, aiming to pay off student loans.
Early Career: Animation and Print Design
After graduating in 1994, Shayne’s first job was as an assistant animator at Delaney and Friends, working on Hanna-Barbera cartoons. The pay was based on film footage output, forcing him to work quickly for meager earnings. Seeking stability, he transitioned to Jeffery Printing, Vancouver’s oldest print shop, family-owned since 1914. The fourth generation had just taken over the business and bought a new computer, hiring Shayne to figure it out. “They hired me because they thought I could lift all the heavy boxes,” he said. There, he learned not only digital design for print but also how to set metal type and use a letterpress.
Transition to Freelance Illustration
On January 1, 2000, Shayne took the leap into full-time freelance illustration, securing representation from agencies in Vancouver (Repart) and New York (John Brewster Creative). His early portfolio was traditional, but he soon developed a digital composite style in Photoshop, blending hand-drawn elements with digital techniques.
Key Projects & Career Highlights
1994: Created a digital illustration for the Vancouver Grizzlies (NBA team)
1995: Bought a $6,000 Performa computer. Taught himself to use Illustrator and Photoshop
1997–2001: Illustrated posters for the Vancouver Fringe Festival, emphasizing character, color, and composition
2000–2003: Worked at Science World creating several gallery spaces (some of which are still there)
2000: Worked with Gae Wakabayashi (art director at Ken Koo Creative), who later became an instructor at IDEA School of Design
Storyboarding for commercials became a lucrative gig—earning $100–$150 per panel, sometimes making $2,500 overnight
2006–09: Interactive Game design: Built Flash-based games for BC Lotteries
Children’s books: Illustrated Number Four, Bobby Orr and The Goalie Mask, a best-selling series that provided royalties for a decade
Teaching & Mentorship
Shayne began teaching at Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design in 2008, joining after Karen Jager revitalized the defunct GDI program in 2001. In 2013, Jager recruited him to UFV to relaunch their Graphic and Digital Design (GDD) program.
Advice to Students
“Draw, draw, draw!” – Improve by sketching from magazines and photos. This will help your imaginative drawing
Be adaptable – Styles change; flexibility keeps you employable. (Example: Gary Kelly evolved his style over time)
Market yourself – Maintain a strong online portfolio (e.g., Camilla d'Errico, an IDEA grad success story)
Charge appropriately – “Don't underestimate yourself—price to keep your lights on”
Challenges & Lessons
Failure story: A rejected project for Kodiak Cakes taught him resilience
Industry shifts: Agents were once essential, but online platforms now allow direct client connections
Reference photos? Shayne avoids them to keep creativity unrestricted
Legacy & Future
From analog beginnings to digital mastery, Shayne Letain’s career reflects the evolution of illustration. Now, as an instructor, he prepares the next generation for an ever-changing industry—where adaptability, skill, and self-promotion are key.
“You want to be flexible and jump around. A specific style may fall out of favour—you can’t afford to turn down work. If you’re asked by a client to do something you’ve not done before, say yes and figure it out later,” Shayne said.
Conclusion
As Shayne showed the students pieces from his early work, student blog reps Mia, Kendra, and Mesh snapped photos for future reference. James Neufeld reminded students to submit their “A” projects for inclusion on the blog, build their portfolio websites early, and get noticed. The IDEA School of Design blog is a bridge to industry, a chance to catch the eye of creative directors and peers alike. Shayne’s career had proven one truth: talent needs visibility.
