Some Project Catch-Ups

Back in action after a week off for my birthday. This year, as a treat to myself, I took a hiatus from work and most computer-related things to reset some priorities and dig in to some personal projects. I finished a few projects that had been languishing, “nearly” finished a few others, and started prepping for some brand new work. Also FINALLY bought my new MacBook. It’s so nice to have a machine do my bidding without the 10 minute pinwheel of doom each time I click …

Mini portrait sketchbook (SB8) - nearly there with 4 pages left!

All in all it was the best way to kick off this year’s #43initiatives project. Determined to stay focused and productive through to 44!

View from Among the Violets …

I’ve always loved the look of woodcut prints. It’s amazing to watch artist slowly carve away the surface, transforming a slab of wood into a beautiful relief block. Not that linoleum isn’t as versatile or beautiful—there’s just something extra physical about working with wood.

So as a treat for my birthday this year I jumped at the chance to take “Woodcut: As Detailed as it Gets” workshop with Jun Lee at Pyramid Atlantic. It’s been weeks in the making, even after the class officially ended … but my first #woodcut is finally complete! A big (and I mean HUGE) thank you to @junieleelee for sharing her wealth of knowledge in this amazing workshop and giving extra time and encouragement to ensure I pulled prints.

Black and white image of leafy undergrowth from a (lady) bug's view

Jungle Gym (Among the Violets), Woodcut, 16”x20”. ©2022 by Jen Sheckels

You can learn more about the piece and the journey to complete it here. This was a fun first foray into woodcut. Can’t wait to start a new piece!

Work Selected for ACAAC's "Into the Garden" Exhibition

New show alert! Happy to announce 4 pieces were accepted into What’s Up? Magazine’s 15th exhibition, “Into the Garden,” in partnership with the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, Md.

Works juried into the show include: Observed: Fork-tailed Katydid (featured), Observed: Orchard Orbweaver, Beneficial Bugs: Praying Mantis, and Observe: Ants—Accidental Planters

Observed: Fork-tailed Bush Katydid, Pastel on paper, 9”x11.5”. © 2021 Jen Sheckels

TGIF 2022!

Thank goodness … it’s finally 2022!

“It’s Finally … 2022!” Two-color screenprinted greeting card (blank inside). ©Jen Sheckels

When I first started playing with the concept for this card (last fall) I was hopeful the world would be in a slightly better place. But, you can never predict the future (or maybe I just try to be more optimistic). With that said, I've taken back the "TGIF 2022" idea to push it as a personal slogan for myself.

“Thank goodness …”

It’s time for new starts and new things; for another year of opportunities to learn and grow; renewed dedication to the things that are most important to me, and for another chance to do better and work at being a better human being.

So thanks in advance, 2022. I can't control a lot of things in this world, but together we're going to do our best to make it a great year in all the ways we can.

Want your own copy of the TGIF card? A small edition is available through Pyramid Atlantic’s Gift Shop.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like …

… something something in the studio!

I’ve created a new greeting card for the 2021 holiday season. I recently revisited screenprinting as an option for hand printing cards. Probably not wise to relearn a techniques right before needing to put it into production. But it was a small edition and I had a lot of fun figuring out the two color approach.

I plan to tweak the design a bit further and reprint when this first edition sells out.

Make it Merry, Screenprinted holiday greeting cards (first edition). © 2021 Jen Sheckles

Wishing everyone a safe and festive holiday season, and all the very best for 2022!

Bringing a Childhood Hero to Life

Sometimes you just need a little extra Monday motivation … am I right?

I've been considering a "Heroes of Childhood" series off and on for a while now. Without anything resembling a game plan, I recently sat down in the studio and just jumped in with one of my faves—E.T.

Though I don't have specific memories of my own (I had just turned two a few weeks before the movie's release), I have heard many a story about the numerous times we had to go to the theater to see it; how I was engrossed in what was going on up on the big screen while slowly sipping on strawberry slushies and gobbling up popcorn. Though there was an exception—the woods scene at the beginning (too scary!). Again, I was two … There also exists photographic evidence of some of the merch, including at least one plush doll and a preschool headshot wearing my E.T. necklace. (btw, is it just me or is an alien head an odd bit of jewelry to own? Between you and me, I wish I still had it …)

I loved E.T. as a kid. The movie has a lot of heart and I will still stop to watch when I come across it on TV. Or if it's been a while, I'll pop in the DVD. E.T. was a long way from home and the rest of his family, looking to find a way to connect and feel safe in a big, troubling (and sometimes scary) world. We can all relate to that once in a while. As an adult, I'm still enamored with his connection and care to other living things. I’m not going to lie—I also geeked out a bit when riding the E.T. Adventure ride at Universal in the early 2000s.

And so Be Good (below) seemed like the logical result of this random act of art. He now hangs above my workspace, quietly motivating me as I step into the next project.

Enjoy!

Be Good, from the Heroes of Childhood series. Mixed media on board, 9”x12”. © 2021 Jen Sheckels

What's in an Expression?

Somehow, I never make time to post. That’s life I guess. But after pondering how to jumpstart some creativity over the last few weeks, I've picked up my sketchbook to explore facial expressions. With all the Zoom meetings and classes, I see a lot of different faces on a daily basis. So why not?

I'm using short gesture drawing sessions as warm up. In today’s haul:

And at the end of today's session, picked up a sketch from last week to play around with a possible "next step" in pastels. Not sure this will lead anywhere, but it's been fun to play around with.

Possible next steps for the sketches … pastel portraits? We'll see!

Work Juried into BWI Exhibit #26, "Colors of the World"

I'm very happy to announce that the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC) has selected all three submissions entered into the upcoming BWI Thurgood Marshall exhibit 26, “Colors of the World." The show will run July 22–November 14, 2019, with an opening reception on Wednesday, August 22 at 5pm. The exhibit can be viewed in the ACAAC exhibit space between Concourses C and D in Departures.

Pieces juried into the show include Overture on Blue, Unfolding, and Observe: Ants—Accidental Planters.

"Self-Nurture" Selected for "Arts in Healing" Collection

Conceptual illustration of a woman as a flower, growing from the dirt, and watering herself in an act of self care.

Self-Nurture
©2017 Jen Sheckels
Mixed media (acrylic, watercolor, oil, and colored pencil) on illustration board

I recently had the good fortune of having a piece purchased for the permanent collection of the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute of Inova Fairfax Hospital.

The Arts & Healing Program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, a department of Inova Fairfax Hospital, is a collaboration with the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, and uses art in its many forms to help support people in treatment and recovery and their loved ones. This innovative program includes a robust permanent art collection and ongoing exhibitions, performing arts events, and other workshops.

The Institute's Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery was dedicated on July 8, 2019 with a special reception. Though I was unable to attend the reception, I’m honored to have my work serve as a source of respite and hope in healing for both those in treatment as well as their loved ones.

Finding the Extraordinary in the “Ordinary”

Observe: Honey Bee to hang in the 6th What's Up? Media Exhibit in Annapolis, Md.

"Observe: Honey Bee," 2018,
Mixed media on illustration board
© Jen Sheckels

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County has selected Observe: Honey Bee to show in the 6th What’s Up? Media exhibit, The Ordinary. The exhibit will be on display at What’s Up? Media’s Corporate Office starting Friday, August 17, 2018, with an opening reception to be held Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 5:00PM (RSVPs required). The exhibit runs through December 13, 2018.

Observe: Honey Bee is a full color study for a picture book concept in development entitled Observe!.

Stay tuned for more details as the project develops!

“Bugs” Are Out and About!

"Tachinid Fly," 2017,
Mixed Media on Watercolor paper
© Jen Sheckels

New exhibit showcases work from the Beneficial Bugs series

Three pieces from my Beneficial Bugs series have been accepted in the F.R.I.E.N.D.S Exhibit at Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park, Md. The show runs the entire month of August in the Center’s main gallery. A closing reception is scheduled for Friday, August 31, 2018 from 6–8 p.m. after which the show will be taken down.

On display are Praying Mantis, Wheel Bug, and Tachinid Fly (featured).

Recent Illustration Juried into Local Art Show

I'm very happy to announce that my piece, "Observe: Accidental Planters" was juried into Pyramid Atlantic Art Center's upcoming Annual Members' Exhibition this summer! 240 pieces were submitted, but only 46 made the final cut. This is a great boost to my continuing development of Observe, a wordless picture book currently in development. This full color study, focusing on how ants often play the beneficial role of "accidental planters," is one of several panels completed for my pending book dummy.

The show will be on display from June 8–July 13, 2018 in Pyramid's gallery in Hyattsville. Opening reception is June 8, 6-9 pm. Find out more about Pyramid Atlantic here -->

"Observe: Accidental Planters," Mixed media on illustration board. ©2018 Jen Sheckels