Ari Hlynur Guðmundsson Yates

Hi there! My name is Ari Hlynur Guðmundson Yates and I’m a cartoonist/illustrator from Iceland.

My work name is Teiknari, and "Teiknari" means illustrator in Icelandic, but the ending of that word is also my first name "Ari" and I find it helps people remember me. 

I graduated with a BA in graphic design from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2014. Graphic design was a practical choice for me and I don’t regret the choice because I learned so many practical skills. However, illustration is my true passion and my graduating project was writing, illustrating and designing a children’s picture book. Ever since then I’ve been freelancing mostly as an illustrator.

In 2015 I began my master’s degree in Art Education and graduated at the end of 2017. For the latter part of 2017, I’ve been studying Graphic Storytelling at The Animation Workshop in Denmark.

I have worked for many clients including The Teachers Association of Iceland, Landvernd (environmental protection agency), Iceland Department of Education, ASSITEJ Iceland (International theater association), The Icelandic Mental Health Alliance and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra to name a few.

I’m very passionate about illustration, idea development and collaboration projects. I love helping clients develop their ideas and make them into reality; it’s one of the best feelings in the world. I also like writing my own stories and following them through to a finished piece. Most of all I just want to make people (especially children) happy with my drawings and getting a laugh is just simply what I live for. If I can lighten your day even just a little bit, that’s my work done. That’s my driving force.