Rollerpan (Alex P.)
Illustrator turning characters, games, and internet chaos into art.
How I got here
The spark
Growing up, I had no idea who or what I'd become, and it worried me — even though I already had a deep love for art. Then one day in an elementary school hallway, I watched someone sketch Articuno and bring it to life on paper. I was completely captivated. Deep down, I knew I wanted to do the same. I just wrongly believed you had to be born with some kind of talent to do it.
Drawing more and more
I started drawing more and more, and the pull toward art kept getting stronger. By 9th grade, I'd set my sights on getting into an art high school program.
Getting in
Through a lot of practice, I secured a spot in the program I wanted. My journey officially started in 10th grade.
Wanting to be a splash art illustrator
By 11th grade, the dream had solidified: I wanted to be a League of Legends splash art illustrator, inspired by the artists I'd long admired — and still do.
First year, online
The pandemic hit right at the end of senior year, so my first year at art university was entirely online. It wasn't all bad, but I felt out of place, and doubts crept in about whether it was worth my time.
Teaching myself instead
I was pursuing a degree in Illustration specifically — a field where, unlike animation or graphic design, a degree isn't always necessary. That mattered a lot when I started considering teaching myself instead, and redirecting the money I would've spent on school into my own artistic journey.
Taking a year off
After my first year, I had a heart-to-heart with my parents. I told them I wanted to take a year off to travel and figure out how I really felt about art before deciding what came next.
Freelance Illustrator, Vancouver
I'm currently based in Vancouver, freelancing ever since, picking up a mix of projects along the way.