A Break in the Clouds

Long work days, late hours, stress, and the normal twists general life throws your way made for a very crazy March. Well, several months truth be told. Today not only marks the end of another work week but also the start of a new month. And it was a good day.

I managed to catch up on some important work and enjoy the calm and creative vibe of the studios without pressing worries to distract me. I overheard two women in Pyramid’s gift shop make some lovely comments about some of my work. Then, during tonight’s Members MashUp exhibition opening reception my piece (featured below) was purchased by a longtime Pyramid friend. These positive validations were such a boost after all of the recent chaos and upheaval … and it carried me all the way home. I even paid it forward when just before turning onto my street I came across a large snapping turtle in the middle of the road. I carefully helped him move to a safer spot then finally made it home. It was a good day indeed.

Today’s lesson: Sometimes you just need to hold on a bit longer for that break in the clouds. I hope I can keep this moment in mind the next time I’m weathering the storms …

Jungle Gym: Among the Violets, Hand colored woodcut, 2023

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!

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

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.

Work with What You've Got

Truly a working-from-home adventure today. I’m in the final stages of a small print for a Print Exchange with the good folks at Pyramid Atlantic. But when your studio space is too small for most things, particularly ANYTHING in multiples, every available flat surface becomes your drying rack. Even the pantry!

And now … the final print! A bit salty with ink drying too fast on the plate, but I still dig it.

Linocut print with decorative background in yellow. Top print in cyan says, "Now is the time to start something new."

"Now (Is the Time to Start Something New)", two color linocut. @2020 Jen Sheckels