Jane Eckles Studio

Children's illustration

2011-12-26T07:28:00.000-08:00

Almost finished with the illustrations for a children's book.

Keep the Arts Funded

2011-02-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

As we face tough budget cuts in public schools, please do not dismiss the arts. We are operating on a thread now. We must realize--the arts may be the only area where a student functions well. It's just who they are...

Pastel portrait

2011-01-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

This is my Mom reading. I'm sure she doesn't appreciate me up in her face, but I think the beauty of her character is evident.

Graphic design and portraits

2010-09-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

I worked on several graphic design projects today. I plan on marketing my graphic design business more actively as well as my portrait commissions.

Posting

2010-09-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have posted to my blog. Taking classes in Special Education and teaching art keeps me pretty busy. I hope to get back to communication on a regular basis.

Back to Teaching

2009-09-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

High school art is in full swing. I have many talented students this year.

7-22-2009

2009-07-22T16:35:00.001-07:00

Painting progress

2009-07-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

This day I used a 1" round foliage brush. I think it helped. I am still working a lot on the likeness of my Dad. So many of the old photos look washed out...trying to enhance the range of value.

Posting

2009-07-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that painting daily is easier than posting daily. I need to make it a habit. I added some subtle color to this but still want a retro hand-tinted look.

Painting progress

2009-07-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

Started painting today and laying in the values. This will be mostly neutral in color to give the feel of a retro photo.

Painting

2009-07-13T15:36:00.001-07:00

This is the beginning of an oil painting. I drew on a canvas that has been underpainted a neutral color. This is a piece depicting my Father and his first car, a 1947 Cadillac. The canvas measures 48 x 36.

Everyday Illustration

2009-07-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

I am working most everyday on everyday subjects in my illustration. I have a hard time managing to post that work everyday. I am going to try to be more regular about this process. This will be helpful to document the creative process for me and my students.

To be digital or paint?

2009-07-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am still having an issue about which medium to focus on. Can anyone give me some thought? I do enjoy painting as well as digital illustration, which has more marketing potential?

Summer Artwork

2009-06-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

Working on creating illustrations for educational companies. This is digital artwork using PhotoShop and Illustrator.

Thank you

2008-12-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-25T07:28:00.001-08:00

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

Anyone have any thoughts?

Logo design

2008-11-10T15:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

Here is another scene from the Three Bears story.

Inked Bears

2008-11-02T16:56:00.000-08:00

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

More Goldi

2008-11-02T05:24:00.001-08:00

Just another sketch of Goldilocks.

Bears

2008-11-02T05:19:00.000-08:00

Adding additional scenes to the Goldilocks story. Pencil sketch.

NYC

2008-10-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

This shows a little more detail.

Portrait

2008-09-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-22T15:59:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

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.