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!

Celebrating this Beautiful World

Happy Earth Day! I hope everyone can take a moment to get outside and observe just one amazing thing about the world around you. It’s there if you’re willing to take a moment and look!


Today I’m celebrating by continuing hand coloring experiments on relief prints. I pulled out an older artist proof of my butterfly creation myth linocut before I make final plans for an edition. Just playing around with colored pencil today.

I hope you experience something amazing today!

Happiness Returned: A Butterfly Creation Myth, Hand colored linocut (1/1). © 2022 Jen Sheckels

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

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

May 20/21 Art Challenge

I recently joined fellow members of the Muddy Creek Artists Guild in a month-long creative challenge for May. 20 artists / 21 (week) days of art created based on a word prompt list. The goal is to do something quick without putting a lot of “thinking” into the mix.

I’ll struggle to keep up with other work going on, but I figured what they hey ... it’ll be fun. And maybe a few new pieces will come out of it.

Speaking of which … Our test prompt for Day 00 was “Intrepid". Here’s my interpretation:

Shine, Pastel on Wallis paper, 5”x5”. © 2021 Jen Sheckels

I’ll be posting the rest as much as possible over on Instagram ≥

"Variations in Pastel" Exhibition Opens at Ginger Cove

On view March 6–April 29, 2021

In collaboration with artists Micki Kirk and Roxanne Weidele, I'm presenting several works in the Variations in Pastel exhibition at Ginger Cover retirement community in Parole, Md. The show highlights the broad range of techniques and effects each artist achieves using soft (chalk) and oil pastels.

Though this is not your "typical show," as the general public will be unable to view it due to continued closures and social distancing measure in affect, it was a lovely chance to see our works hung in a new venue. It also afforded an opportunity to talk about our work with new friends.

We were invited to stop by and view the show on March 15. Here are a few highlights from the gallery walk:

View of left wall at entrance, featuring a few of my works.

January Moods: An Experiment

In December, while sorting through all sorts of feelings and moods, I discovered that I (more often than not) found a moment of solace and/or a sense of camaraderie with the aspects of the day's weather. I'm not 100% sure what spurred me to do it, but starting with January 1st I made point to look to the skies at multiple points during the day, taking mental notes and photos. At the end of the day I created a small, abstract pastel work that combined those notes and my overall mood for the day. Thus was born Weather as Mood: January 2021.

"Weather as Mood: January 2021", pastel on paper. ©2021 Jen Sheckels

For 31 days I recorded these observations and moods in quick pastel impressions. This is well out of my usual wheelhouse, so it was fun to simple play with color and shape. If nothing else, I got my hands dirty with pastels, which is always a good feeling. I may make the attempt again in the future.

"'To be or not to be …'"

2020 has certainly been a year so far … on a lot of different levels.

When everything shut down in March, anxiety and uncertainty were constant companions for many (if not all of us). Many rallied and found new, creative ways of dealing with being cooped up at home. Sparks of creative experimentation, art-making, and the coming together of so many across so many different walks of live was inspiring to witness. But I had such a hard time tapping into anything resembling "creativity" … and felt like I was letting myself down in not finding a way to do so.

But looking back, I realize that instead of creating I've been actively absorbing new input. Stuck at home, you take more note of the little things and find new ways to engage with the world. I've spent a lot of time following and discovering different artists, techniques, and reading across a broad range of topics. I've been spending a lot of time outside, observing so many different things. Which is how I stumbled across this little gem.

Found this leaf pasted to the sidewalk after a rain shower. Appearing or disappearing … I suppose it's all in your point of view.

Where does the sidewalk end and the leaf begin? Is it coming or going? Appearing or disappearing? Perhaps this is a visual metaphor for some of these recent thoughts …

I guess the point of this little post is to do what feels right to you. If you're inspired to create, do it! If you feel drawn to take notes, photos, and screenshots of a million different things to look-up, explore, try for yourself (like me) … do that too. There's no right or wrong in this crazy mixed-up world of 2020. And if like me, you've been simply absorbing all sorts of things that inspire, interest, and make you smile, well, I have no doubt that's going to provide the fuel for whatever's next.

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