Thank you

I really appreciate the support from those who have already purchased my fairy tale prints at the Decatur Area Arts Council's annual Christmas Show. There are still some prints available if you need a gift. If you do not see the one you want, please contact me directly.

Thanks so much!

jane

More illustrated books

Would illustrated picture books for high school students make better readers out of visual learners?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Logo design

Here is a new logo design I created for The Coaching House, Inc. It is a consulting firm advising medium size businesses as they expand to the next level in terms of sales and additional employees.

Goldilocks story

Here is another scene from the Three Bears story.

Inked Bears

Here is the inked version of one scene from the Bears.

More Goldi

Just another sketch of Goldilocks.

Bears

Adding additional scenes to the Goldilocks story. Pencil sketch.

NYC

I have been lucky enough to go to New York City. It was a whirlwind of sights and experiences--museums, Broadway show, shopping, etc.

This is a view from the Top of the Rock--Rockefeller Center

Progress

Just wanted to post an image of this oil portrait in progress. There is a light shining down from the top which makes it look a little lighter at the top.

New art

This is the start of a new piece. It is from an old copyright free photo from the turn of the century. I don't like the colors yet. I think it could go in the series of children's activity prints.

Keeping Up

It seems to be hard to keep up with painting, teaching, billing, marketing, etc. and blogging. Does anyone have the answer? I always like to include an image in my blogs...maybe I shouldn't be so concerned. I like the pictures myself.

Detail

This shows a little more detail.

Portrait

Wanted to show the progression of a portrait I am working on. Here is the beginning of a 24 x 30 oil portrait of two brothers. I apply a wash of Viridan green, and then draw with a brown colored pencil the image. I am using a photograph as source and enlarging.

Typically, I apply a grid to the small photo and a grid to the canvas to scale before drawing.

New Series

I am starting a new series of prints about children's activities--Dance, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, artists, etc. If you know a child who could pose for these illustrations, please contact me. Or maybe be you already have a photograph of your Dancer or Baseball player. Anyone who is used as a model will receive a special price on artwork. Email info@janeeckles.com or call 217-416-7287

Art Fair

Our local art fair was this weekend. It was interesting working in the Kid's Art Shop. It surprised me how many adults wanted to purchase the $3-$5 items slated for children's shopping. The artists of central Illinois are very generous and donate so much of their time and talent to provide an educational art experience for small folks. It would be nice if they were supported as well by the entire community.

Graphic design

Updated my website to include pricing for graphic design projects. I really think it can be pretty straight forward. Most print pieces need to start at $200.00 for design. That is very competitive with other design offerings, such as Office Depot. Printing costs are additional.

Art project

Here is a basic art project focusing on the art element of shape. Students cut oout of board a geometric shape of their choice. It is traced with a permanent marker or crayon utilizying the principle of overlapping to create an abstract design. Then, watercolor paint is applied to the shapes and students can see how overlapping shapes create new shapes.

It is simple, and a basic art concept, but the outcome can be nice particularly if the student selects a nice color pallette.

Graphic design

Just finished several print pieces for a new graphics client. Her business is a physician supervised weightloss program. I really enjoy helping new business start-ups with their visual identity, even though my main focus is children's illustration.

Sketchbooks on time payments

As an art teacher, I bought sketchbooks for $2.00 each, making them easily available to my students. Several students came up with a quarter or two, and a payment plan to purchase sketchbooks was initiated!

Actually, most of the books were just given to the students. Although, one of my best art students has paid his off in full!

...and I thought this wouldn't be as much fun as elementary school!

High school art

Friday's afternoon art classes were over the top! Our assignment was to create a logo for the Poms...a dancing Panther. The first period class took this task in stride and gave it their best shot. The third hour intro class was loud and complained about the project more than they created. Fourth hour juniors and seniors seem to be so cool--they will not take a risk doing something that others may laugh at, so they did not produce too much either.

It's the weekend, and now I have to strategize how to make risk takers out of my art students!

Hansel and Gretel

Finished the Hansel and Gretel Illustration. Now there is a series of three Childrens' Fairy Tales. I plan to create more these children's pieces. The arts and crafts aesthetic is perfect for a nursury or children's room in a bungalow style home.

Finished Goldilocks

Here is a pic of the finished Goldilocks and the Three Bears illustraton. It was done on archival stock with permanent ink and watercolor. The black mat is part of the artwork.

New illustration

Good morning!

This is a B day at my urban high school, so I do not teach art today. We had several shootings in the community last week. So sad to hear students were involved. I am a new teacher at this school, so just getting to know the ropes. I really like my art students, though.

I am home in my studio working on a new children's illustration. I am really getting into this Golden Age style to depict these old fables.

Here is my pencil sketch...on to the inking!

Have a swell day!

jane

New to blogging

I am an artist and illustrator who specializes in painting children and animals. Please visit my website http://www.janeeckles.com/

I also teach high school art.

This is a pencil sketch for one of the illustration prints available on my website.