I've been so preoccupied updating websites and mailings, business cards and new art, that I haven't kept up my posts.  Here's the final product of that last post.  I'll share the in-betweens as soon as I have a chance.  Thanks for visiting!

JenHallArt.com

Coming shortly - a new faerie in the garden.

I have started scanning my works in progress over the last year and am finally deciding to share some of them.

It's been a great learning tool for me.  Being able to see where the turning points are in a piece (for better or for worse), to see what layers work well together and what colors I'll never use again!

This illustration is part of a short series - the others still in their sketch stages.  Hope you like!

jen

 This is where my illustrations usually start.  Not pretty, but it helps me work out placement and feelings.

This is the cleaned version of the final sketch that gets printed onto my watercolor paper.  Everything has to be just right at this point because I can't do much altering once it's printed.

And now the Awful In Between...

 

Shut that door!  That room is distracting me.

Still not sure what to do with that pillow...

Below is the final piece.  A little color corrected and cropped.  Thanks for dropping in!

An old sketch.

A pleasant distraction.

Curious look at a springtime baby. Keeping greener days in mind.

Popsicles on a cold, cold day. With details.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  Though the weather's still too warm for this girl's gear.

From an early reader book illustrated for Zaner-Bloser, Inc.

Possible self portrait.

A new self portrait I'm thinking of putting onto my site.  Any responses?

Butler Man in the fall.

Butler is loving the weather all over again.  Cold mornings and piles of colorful leaves everywhere.  Play, Butler, play!

Highlights for Children illustrators weekend. Walk in the woods at founder's homestead.

Recently attended the illustrator's party at Highlights for Children in Honesdale, PA.  Though I have some great photos of my fellow illustrators, I'm posting a few pic's from the walk I took through the wooded area of the property.  Just teeming with life and death.

Good news!  My book "Sheila Says We're Weird" has just won a Skipping Stones Honor Award from Skipping Stones Magazine, a multicultural publication for children.  This is it's second award.  I'm so proud that the book is doing so well, which is mostly due to the wonderful author, Ruth Ann Smalley and our publisher, Tilbury House, Publishers.  Congratulations and thank you to everyone that worked on the project!

"Honoring books that promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and encourage a deeper understanding of the world's diversity, ecological richness, respect for multiple viewpoints and close relationships within human societies." 

 ISBN 978-0-88448-326-7

TilburyHouse.com

My latest book "Sheila Says We're Weird" has won a Moonbeam Children's Book Award.  I can officially call myself an award winning artist.

"Celebrating youthful curiosity, discovery and learning through books and reading." 

ISBN 978-0-88448-326-7
TilburyHouse.com

Illustration for young reader ed book.

I like this illo.  I'm not asked to show subtle sadness/disappointment very often.

Highlights Founder's Workshop - "Butler in Spring"

Every spring my tricolor border collie turns completely brown down in the swampy waters that feed into the Mississippi.  Happy feet!