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
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.
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.
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.
