tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87509287496795643292012-01-26T12:00:14.728-06:00An Artist's Journal or Skivington So FarJanice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.comBlogger2671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-379384786023172252012-01-23T11:22:00.000-06:002012-01-23T11:22:52.558-06:00

The Chinese images of dragons are so arresting, so magnificent! Here are some images from the book that I illustrated for Childrens' Press, "The Fourth Question". (Now it is out of print, but I can still find it on Amazon) (Someone please re-publish this, it is such a great story). I used a lot of research for this River Dragon, from my own photos and trip to China, to museums, and a Chinese

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-33432761300765578042011-12-31T14:41:00.000-06:002011-12-31T14:41:12.300-06:00

News for the new year! I am launching another website for the purpose of marketing and showcasing my flower paintings. My primary website has illustration and my flower fine art and I think it will be less confusing to certain buyers if they can be directed to just the one subject. I thought about many titles and finally for the sake of web searches but not brevity, I decided to say it like it is

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-43773839993453964732011-11-23T15:58:00.003-06:002011-11-24T19:36:43.051-06:00

Quote: "May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-17998586486612196602011-10-31T09:09:00.001-05:002011-10-31T09:11:26.223-05:00

All that is gold does not glitter,Not all those who wander are lost;The old that is strong does not wither,Deep roots are not reached by the frost. J.R.R.Tolkien       The Lord of the Rings

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-26458386449619403772011-10-26T11:48:00.000-05:002011-10-26T11:48:25.376-05:00

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) (A quote from the label on my Good Earth tea bag, one of my favorite reading venues.) I have had the time to attend several sessions lately where I can draw or paint from the live model. Instead of falling back on pencil drawing which is easier for me, I have been bringing canvas and Golden Open Acrylic (

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-48013294360319330672011-10-13T10:15:00.001-05:002011-11-24T09:36:59.789-06:00

I met a fellow artist and long-time Daily Painter and fellow blogger last night! I was interested to meet him and had heard that he frequented the same live model head painting group/class that I have been working with.  Here is his blog; http://michaelnaples.blogspot.com. I have great respect for Michael and his painting skill, and so it was a pleasure to be able to work in the same room and

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-61993566659737856362011-10-12T16:25:00.010-05:002011-10-12T16:25:00.653-05:00

...or San Diego, Florida, or Santa Fe; I wouldn't be in such a hurry to draw these hibiscus from life in my own garden. But I must hurry, October has its own deadline here in the Chicago area.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-59451204408452867872011-10-10T13:12:00.000-05:002011-10-10T13:12:31.864-05:00

Off to a great start today. I had two lovely blossoms remaining on my summer plant. Around here these are just annual flowers and since we are rapidly moving through October, these will only be around for another day or so.I drew these from life this morning, just my favorite way to work. Celebrating the line, the lovely line.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-44233553911947298322011-09-27T17:09:00.000-05:002011-09-27T17:09:21.122-05:00

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill I have to remember that not everything turns out as I envisioned. I threw away two paintings this week when techniques I tried failed. This flower which I drew from life, was one of them. I thought it would be interesting to draw with brush and ink but then I

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-9141920641503459342011-09-26T11:07:00.001-05:002011-09-26T11:07:00.454-05:00

Sometimes the back side of my subject is as fascinating to me as the other views. Here, a life drawing posed from the back. And another of one of my favorite subjects showing all the intricacy of the back view.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-89266228103699547072011-09-24T10:38:00.000-05:002011-09-24T10:38:15.652-05:00

After the modeling session ended, this gentleman revealed to me that he is 85 years old. I would have thought he was younger, maybe at the end of his 70s. Shows how incredibly different the aging process is for each individual. As it is with the endlessly different life stories written on each face.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-50464598659436159552011-09-19T10:53:00.011-05:002011-09-24T10:39:13.376-05:00

(edited life drawing from one of my class sessions) A thought I have been mulling over is about my attraction to the withered and old in my art. I like to draw a flower that has been around for days or even weeks in my studio. Every day that passes gives me a changing subject to look at, consider from different angles. I sometimes wait until a petal is drooping way over and the edges are curled

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-53576630568854603842011-09-16T16:10:00.007-05:002011-10-26T15:03:09.857-05:00

That bright and intensely deep blue September sky, so ominous, so heavy with promise. The brisk tingle of cold weather to come bends the heads of the flowers. I bought some tiny plants at the hardware store last May. They only had a leaf or two each, but they were labeled "Moulin Rouge Sunflower". That was enough promise for me, I could hardly wait to see

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-70401314594549853692011-09-15T09:59:00.000-05:002011-09-15T09:59:00.236-05:00

The writer should never be afraid of staring. There is nothing that does not require his attention. Flannery O'Connor My encounter with this old man would have fit right into a Flannery O'Connor story. (well, maybe not the gruesome parts) I was visiting a friend on a hot August day. We passed the time together with me following her on her various rounds of the day. After we drove to a spot where

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-29128674068622652722011-09-14T11:16:00.007-05:002011-09-14T11:18:24.897-05:00

"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." Bob Dylan I can't agree with this clever quote. And if a man can get away with doing just that, he would have to be very clever. I met this man while visiting France. I sketched his interesting face while we were eating a dinner that lasted until late on a moonlit

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-32429834033104854892011-09-13T09:40:00.020-05:002011-09-13T09:40:00.170-05:00

I am interested in working toward the goal of making these sketches more than an attempt at a likeness. I want to look at this person and try to show what is really there. An experience that I am thinking of here is one that has happened more than once while visiting at the nursing home. I have found myself in conversation with someone who now looks quite differently from the person that they

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-15925885505801957412011-09-12T09:56:00.000-05:002011-09-12T09:56:31.744-05:00

I I am thinking about a new series, a new subject to explore. Portraits of people. People that are older, maybe, considered elderly and or infirm. I spend a fair bit of time visiting at a nursing "home" for elderly people. Most of the people I see there are not ever going to leave, this is the place where they will spend their last days. Some are worse by the day, some seem to stay about in the

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-33541930340698816482011-09-08T12:32:00.000-05:002011-09-08T12:32:25.800-05:00

When I wander about the world inspecting the visual stimulus surrounding all of us I might find one subject more interesting than another. I find myself fascinated with the possibilities,colors, line quality, forms, and pure physical beauty of flower forms. I am not painting them to be "happy". I am painting them to satisfy the desire to record what I am seeing. Sometimes, I am seeing beauty,

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-32821653954338850522011-09-07T15:12:00.000-05:002011-09-07T15:12:37.950-05:00

I have placed myself in a position somewhere in-between so that I don't have any appreciators. My mother thinks my flower paintings are too big and not pretty enough. My graduate class thinks they are too small and too pretty. I don't have an audience either way I turn.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-28826744692351585152011-08-27T13:29:00.030-05:002011-08-31T22:54:31.562-05:00

I worked so very hard for the first couple of hours getting warmed up. The model had a very jumpy soundtrack playing on a boombox, making me nervous, some rap, some hiphop, and I was sure I wasn't going to turn out any sort of a drawing  that day. I spent the first two hours yelling inside my head (encouraging instructive stuff at myself), and then it all happened in the last hour, just as some

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-14266260851330885272011-08-21T15:41:00.002-05:002011-08-21T15:41:00.841-05:00

Another watercolor pencil sketch from my traveling notebook. I picked this rose from the garden of our friends and drew while they were preparing us a lovely dinner. I was so incredibly blessed (and really a bit spoiled). Good friends, good food, interesting conversation in two languages, some nice wine, and ...roses.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-28835049745278859242011-08-20T14:47:00.004-05:002011-08-20T14:47:00.819-05:00

We had the great pleasure of a visit to the home of some French family friends. I will post more about our adventures and discoveries in the next days. I would have sketched more, except that, (oh excuses, excuses) I had a new camera and just absolutely had to snap some 1,000 or more photos. Also, I would have sketched more if we were not moving so fast all day visiting so many exciting places.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-91985023300029525152011-08-19T11:35:00.012-05:002011-08-19T11:35:00.139-05:00

Sad, but yes, true. I have enjoyed this summer perhaps more than any in my life so far. And that is a good thing to reflect about. This painting, 30'by40' acrylic on canvas, framed is for sale.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-85430216944233215372011-08-19T09:43:00.000-05:002011-08-19T09:43:45.579-05:00

Yep, that's me, from two weeks ago. No explanation necessary for the location or identity of the lady in the painting behind the glass in the museum. How did I get to be alone in a photo without the usual crowd at the most popular spot in the Louvre? That is the really interesting question, involving purchasing tickets a day ahead and getting up early enough to take a carefully planned metro

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-27858524504188633452011-08-18T11:35:00.000-05:002011-08-18T11:35:18.906-05:00

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-75291421873047029002011-08-04T10:27:00.000-05:002011-08-04T10:27:00.288-05:00

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-89331914263764257722011-08-03T10:30:00.006-05:002011-08-18T21:11:42.258-05:00

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-62572012743944477092011-08-02T10:35:00.002-05:002011-08-26T16:56:03.702-05:00

painting!

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-23394423895625637612011-08-01T10:27:00.000-05:002011-08-01T10:27:21.681-05:00

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-77230760433061717782011-07-29T10:35:00.008-05:002011-07-29T10:35:00.748-05:00

I went to another session this week. It is hard to get back into the discipline if you have been out of it. It is like my exercise routine of running 3 or 4 miles, I never want to stop because I don't want to have to start up again-it is just too hard. These drawing sessions are hard, intense, and exhausting. And I love it. Here, I used watercolor pencils for a 20 minute pose.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-31875515638129040912011-07-28T12:23:00.003-05:002011-07-28T12:23:00.101-05:00

"Any object can be drawn, although those which have been formed by nature or affected by long use will offer the greatest amount of variation, as a flower, a stone, a piece of fruit, or an old shoe."Kimon Nicolaides "The Natural Way to Draw" My closest, most frequently used model, my own hand, drawn in my sketchbook.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-51424172295502163942011-07-27T12:17:00.002-05:002011-07-28T10:35:02.570-05:00

I haven't posted in a month. Yikes. And I haven't been drawing a lot, not as much as I should. Excuses like the wedding and re-arranging my studio don't hold up to my insistence that any drawing student must practice constantly. I went to an open drawing session with a head model this  week. Just to get in some practice. Actually, I drew her entire figure, but here is my result from the head

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-71275031650523900782011-06-27T16:43:00.010-05:002011-06-28T10:19:03.130-05:00

Alternative title to this post, describe the Act of drawing. Teaching drawing is frustrating unless your students are willing to work outside of class in a sketchbook every day. If that sketchbook is not filled to the brim, with pages and pages of drawings, your classroom efforts are wasted. One simply cannot understand the concepts until the hours of effort have been put in to the equation. I

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-50212404250279286702011-06-14T11:06:00.000-05:002011-06-14T11:06:23.640-05:00

I have been away on a couple of trips, and terribly busy since I returned. And I really do have a lot of sketches to post, but will have to wait until The Wedding is over. My daughter is getting married this week. This is a do-it-yourself wedding with much help and love from friends and family. I have planted lots of flowers in my garden, hoping for some color when our guests arrive to stay at

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-72496109404702656062011-05-03T01:27:00.000-05:002011-05-03T01:27:00.635-05:00

Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain, Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. In the grave they laid him, Love whom hate had slain, Thinking that never would he wake again, Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-52804487096840863352011-04-30T10:04:00.006-05:002011-04-30T10:04:00.162-05:00

The events of last week were very powerful.  I have posted about the work that I did for the Great Vigil of Easter, the 40 foot tall Icon/Banner and the beautiful service we had until almost midnight. I am going to tell about a moment that happened while I was painting during a very long intense week. The banner is heavy canvas, 16 feet wide and 40 feet high. The only space we could use for

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-1915116717809762272011-04-27T10:07:00.000-05:002011-04-27T10:07:05.801-05:00

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-47157785495145661542011-04-26T07:09:00.000-05:002011-04-26T07:09:49.677-05:00

Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed. This enormous icon/banner was viewed by many people over the weekend. Yes, I cringed when it went up, it is my "artist" thing to feel poorly about images that I have made. That is not the important thing, Christ risen in reality is most important. I have some stories to tell about the last week of painting. I will post more of them.The Altar Cloth shown here

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-11359184296866890422011-04-21T21:05:00.000-05:002011-04-21T21:05:09.438-05:00

The enormous mural of Christ Resurrected is finally finished. I have been giving up all my spare time to this project. Will I cringe when this is displayed at the Great Alleluia? I hope not, but I am too close to the project at this time. I will need some distance, some time away from it. Here it is still out on the floor , 40 feet tall and 16 feet wide. 

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-22832412038868699812011-04-18T07:56:00.089-05:002011-04-18T09:21:20.793-05:00

Showing here (left) one of my color sketches when we still thought Christ should be white and gold. This image (right) was our inspiration. Matthias Grunewald's painting of The Christ Resurrected (Isenheim Altarpiece).                                          As I said yesterday, the problem was that we did not want our image to look like a white suburban caucasian version of  Christ. And, the

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-16959568995855885472011-04-17T22:11:00.000-05:002011-04-17T22:11:00.802-05:00

As you can see the process is overwhelming! We had quite a debate about the skin tones of the Christ image. At first we had the idea that His skin would be shining white and golden, as glorious as possible. But after some applications of an ivory base color I began to think, that this would inevitably look like a caucasian Christ and I want to avoid that stereotype.  I went back to the study I

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-26288702911012317942011-04-17T10:56:00.000-05:002011-04-17T10:56:00.460-05:00

I am tinkering with my blog design. It seems more complicated than it should. I am intending to add some pages of art that I will group into common subjects as I have posted on them. And I am playing around with various headers to add some punch to the page. So, this one? Or, this one?How about the one I already inserted into the design above? I am using that one in my website already. I am not

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-23287718355136262772011-04-17T09:51:00.000-05:002011-04-17T09:51:13.263-05:00

The Wired Artists Show opened on Friday night at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California. I wish very much that I could have been there. Frank Ordaz , a wonderfully talented painter and illustrator himself, organized this show and thoughtfully sent me this photo of my art hanging for visitors to see. So there it is! I am waiting to see more pictures of the opening night and of the

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-64190708713400142902011-04-16T13:04:00.003-05:002011-04-16T13:04:00.291-05:00

From the very first day of gridding out this huge banner I have been injured. The skin on both my knees is raw. So I wear bandaids, athletic bandage wrapped over that, then rubber knee pads such as tile setters use. And I am still very sore every day! It is all for a good cause and I am enjoying the process.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-78222569476235615282011-04-15T13:03:00.000-05:002011-04-15T13:03:47.381-05:00

I have hardly been home, and even less in my studio for the past four weeks. I went to France for ten days with the high school student group (post my sketches from that trip later). Immediately after arriving back, I went into hyperdrive painting a huge banner for Easter services at our church. The painting is taking up all my time now, it is interesting and satisfying. I am working with several

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-13760685207793714622011-04-08T10:26:00.019-05:002011-04-08T10:26:00.183-05:00

The other participating artists are so outstanding in the quality of their work that I am awed to be included in this. I feel quite inspired by this opportunity to work harder this year.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-3613474188452837162011-04-07T10:25:00.002-05:002011-04-06T17:30:35.700-05:00

I am invited to display my work in an art show in California. My blogging acquaintance, Frank Ordaz, (with whom I also share alumnus status from the Art Center College in Pasadena), has most generously reached out to his internet connections and proposed a show made up of blogging artists that he knows. The show titled "Wired Artists" will be exhibited at William Jessup University Library in

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-28794073952309623502011-04-06T10:09:00.000-05:002011-04-06T10:09:20.928-05:00

I am back from the thrilling trip to France. And what a privilege it was. A highlight of the journey was our visit to Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. We visited the studio of Paul Cezanne, and then attended a workshop and lecture about the artist and his working methods. I was very interested in the lecture and then how the students would be instructed about painting in the style of

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-13161010237038839482011-03-31T16:19:00.004-05:002011-04-03T21:26:47.769-05:00

It really isn't fair, and I wish you could all come with us. I am off for a week in Paris with my daughter and  her French language students. I have my sketchbook and plan to use it a lot!

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-68513104020537456192011-03-27T15:18:00.014-05:002011-03-27T15:18:00.619-05:00

While listening to the sermon I made this sketch in the margin of my copy of the Nicene Creed. I am joining a group of artists working together on a special banner for the Easter Vigil service. We are thinking about an icon-like image of the Resurrected Christ.  I will be posting about this as our work progresses.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-35224909554311747372011-03-26T13:25:00.000-05:002011-03-26T13:25:00.325-05:00

Still part of the Moody magazine series but this was a story within the story. Again, my oldest son posed for this. Now that I look back on it, because he has grown-up and left our house for his own, what a sweet memory. All of my four children have left behind a precious part of themselves within the paintings and illustrations they helped me produce.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-45558123734550131362011-03-25T13:19:00.000-05:002011-03-25T13:19:00.109-05:00

I am including the edges of this painting because it just adds to the atmosphere and mood of the piece. The time-traveling Discovery kids sit with Jesus and the disciples and listen to parables. 

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-76963440623009340002011-03-24T13:15:00.000-05:002011-03-24T13:15:01.927-05:00

Another chapter in the Moody monthly magazine series involved a science project that one of the boys makes. I think there was a moral dilemma involved where someone breaks his valued terrarium and he must struggle with forgiveness. I  had fun coming up with that terrarium image. My oldest son and I constructed a model from a warehouse size mayonnaise bottle, he made the wooden base and posed for

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-17235687302075059992011-03-23T13:11:00.001-05:002011-03-23T20:43:32.636-05:00

The story lines in this series didn't always involve time travel to the New Testament days.Yet it was important to be consistent with the children as I kept introducing the same characters in the illustrations. In this chapter, a boy has to attend a funeral for his grandfather.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-32053775780476854322011-03-22T13:07:00.001-05:002011-03-22T19:36:19.994-05:00

Jesus is righteously angry, upsets all the money-lender tables and sets all the sacrificial animals free. Feel the chaos, noise, smells, and time-travel?

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-53004295615323036832011-03-21T13:03:00.001-05:002011-03-22T19:40:54.030-05:00

This is one of my favorite spots in a favorite story. This art appeared on the page after the opening spread. I love the part with the description of the prodigal son rushing into his father's arms, receiving unexpected, undeserved, love and grace.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-76241083619941020922011-03-20T12:59:00.000-05:002011-03-20T12:59:00.726-05:00

I am going for the You-Are-There, really experiencing the action sort of feeling. I really like drawing pigs too. How fun it is to keep working with the same kid characters, developing the personalities too.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-25366201226495088932011-03-19T12:39:00.000-05:002011-03-19T12:39:00.214-05:00

Every kid that attends Sunday School knows the story of the short man who was also a tax collector (not a popular guy anytime). This fellow wanted to see over the crowd that was following Jesus, so he climbed a tree to get a good look but not be conspicuous. Jesus knows he is up there anyway, and calls to him. I have my story kids climbing the tree as well, because of course, kids would like

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-90552796495704347612011-03-18T12:55:00.000-05:002011-03-18T12:55:00.172-05:00

The characters in my time travel story really get to experience it all in this chapter. They get wet and frightened too, until they see Jesus walking across the water and calming the storm.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-79233044544531913622011-03-17T12:24:00.000-05:002011-03-17T12:24:00.651-05:00

The title for the series was "Discovery Kids".  This is the second spread showing the moment when the kids see into the time machine and find out where they are going. They follow Jesus around, listen to His sermon on the mount, and watch Him perform miracles. I was influenced at this time by the illustrations of  Chris Van Allsburg. I wanted to use the strong shadows, interesting lighting,

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-74651841644543050892011-03-16T18:23:00.001-05:002011-03-17T14:34:02.948-05:00

I had the opportunity of working on a series of children's stories for this magazine a few years ago. The plan at the time was to turn the final process into a children's book. (That did not happen.) There were two authors for the story who took turns sending me a manuscript every month. It was published in the magazine for two years so in all I did 22 full spread illustrations and 22 1/4 page

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-50055068167897984912011-03-15T21:57:00.000-05:002011-03-15T21:57:41.723-05:00

Some acrylics, some watercolor technique, some colored pencils, and some oil pastel.  And a lot of just playing around with it all.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-81466738250175924132011-03-12T19:15:00.002-06:002011-03-14T10:13:11.744-05:00

Here is what I've been working on today. Two lovebirds sitting amidst cherry blossoms for a wedding theme. The invitation typography will go in between the bird art. I am playing with the art in photoshop, these little tweaks and design ideas can go on all night. Maybe the birds can be a different color? Maybe I should apply some interesting filter? How about a rice paper texture?

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-48244525652374873132011-03-10T12:27:00.132-06:002011-03-10T12:27:00.287-06:00

Sometimes I make studies that are copies of the work of a famous artist, in this case, Rembrandt van Rijn. Copying a great work is a time-honored tradition for those who study art. By copying one can see the work  with more intelligence and feel, perhaps, what the intent might have been behind those brushstrokes.I read a book a few years ago during this time of Lent, that was profoundly

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-51778514747992026782011-03-09T12:53:00.053-06:002011-03-10T12:48:46.882-06:00

I have posted about this before, one of my favorite church services of the year is Ash Wednesday. I welcome the time of silence and contemplation. I even like the somber colors of Lent. Today in my copy of the Chicago Tribune, I found an essay by a columnist that I often enjoy, Mary Schmich.  The entire article can be found here http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-schmich-0309-

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-72232701201629348342011-02-27T14:58:00.001-06:002011-02-27T15:04:59.853-06:00

Wanted: Sunshine, warm temperature, bright,must stay in the sky for 8 hours a day.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-63673065598182252192011-02-20T18:33:00.002-06:002011-02-20T22:08:51.873-06:00

Today we sat behind a family with six children under the age of  10. A lovely family with fine parents, but... lots of wiggling and whispering. I like to sketch wherever I am, even in a church service. I actually listen better when my hands are occupied. That probably doesn't make sense to most people.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-51040717442976586342011-02-16T11:11:00.000-06:002011-02-16T11:11:01.277-06:00

It is actually warming up today! Piles and mounds and heaps of snow still remain but a  pale watery lemonade sun is working up courage today. I am finishing a little spring-ish watercolor.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-80092042166449560502011-02-15T17:15:00.044-06:002011-02-16T12:42:07.356-06:00

OK, so it was Last Year's Goal to clean out my studio and get organized. Yet, I am applauding myself and slapping myself heartily on the back because I did it finally. Of, course as these things go, it won't stay clean and organized. But maybe with my new carefully thought-out system it won't get so hopelessly cluttered. I really did excavate, eviscerate, disembowel, and expunge. Especially those

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-12775017546723898772011-02-14T11:06:00.011-06:002011-02-14T11:15:28.727-06:00

Happy Valentines Day to you!

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-32717546489756846422011-02-11T17:25:00.005-06:002011-02-11T17:31:40.918-06:00

Just a warm-up (pun intended) for today. I used Corel Painter to illustrate this one.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-22289786938215520692011-02-10T14:31:00.000-06:002011-02-11T14:56:03.322-06:00

I am sort of obsessed about this bad weather. I keep checking the internet weather forecast to see how cold it will be today, how much snow to expect, and how bad is it going to feel. Today it was 10 below zero while I was sipping my coffee, clutching the cup between my trembling hands. And the snow banks outside start at 24 inches high and might be as tall as 5 feet at the corners where you

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-28017546892734084462011-02-07T21:11:00.000-06:002011-02-07T21:11:49.565-06:00

Well, I wasn't able to predict the exact point spread as I freakishly pulled off last year.  I was right about the Packers winning but not close enough. And as usual, I spent my time sketching very rapidly. 

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-17253749662524848382011-02-04T14:46:00.003-06:002011-02-04T14:46:00.859-06:00

Another advertising illustration for the same newspaper bank ad campaign. Captioned "Save your nest egg at today's rates"

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-73441713845587652242011-02-03T11:29:00.002-06:002011-02-03T11:33:07.513-06:00

Welcome to the Chinese New Year 4709 today. It is the Year of the Rabbit and here is my version of how the year will go. I wish for Prosperity for all of us. Yes, this drawing also looks like fecundity but I mean it to say prosper in all ways. This illustration was made for a bank advertisement that ran in the local newspaper in South Bend, Indiana. I believe that it was to show various mortgage

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-6311013204503832912011-01-30T20:37:00.001-06:002011-02-03T09:39:49.186-06:00

Today, sketching in church, this is what caught my attention. A reading from the prophet Micah 6:8, and the words stay with me.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-955684656087871032011-01-29T19:06:00.000-06:002011-01-29T19:06:45.114-06:00

This past month, January in Chicagoland, has been a long icy struggle. I guess I have what is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. I ought to get disability allowance for this(just joking). Yet I keep at work even though it feels like I am trying to draw this artwork while slogging on snowshoes, in a blizzard, with heavy mittens on. I have been working on something fun, a wedding invitation design

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-74080569596017982902011-01-06T12:28:00.000-06:002011-01-06T12:28:31.871-06:00

Today is Three Kings Day, or the Feast of the Epiphany. Tradition has it that this is the day that the Wise Men of the Orient visited the baby Jesus and gave him gifts they carried from afar. I knew some folks who didn't open Christmas presents with their children until January 6 because that was the day that Jesus got his first presents. I kind of like that idea, take advantage of the end of

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-75657610516067399992010-12-31T13:56:00.000-06:002010-12-31T13:56:00.875-06:00

This is the end of my story and fittingly, the end of this wonderful year. I ended the storybook with a full-spread illustration that repeated my opening scene of the Storyteller and the three children. I fear that some people thought I had just repeated my first spread but, it is a completely different illustration with different expressions to show the reactions at the end of the story. Here is

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-51546507548268530882010-12-31T11:07:00.002-06:002010-12-31T11:07:00.031-06:00

Tricking a huge Snake was easy, Anansi simply appealed to vanity. He challenged the Snake to prove that it was longer than the longest piece of bamboo in the forest. Snake complied and Anansi quickly tied him to the bamboo pole. This art is all rendered with prismacolor pencils, layered and burnished. Lots and lots of pencils!

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-67355424928658888482010-12-31T09:07:00.003-06:002010-12-31T12:58:16.865-06:00

 In order to trick The Leopard and tie him up for delivery to the sky, Anansi first digs a deep hole and sets a trap. Just try, I ask you, to think about how to show a spider with his eight tiny arms holding a device with which to dig a huge hole. Suspension of disbelief is called for when telling and illustrating these stories. Anansi does manage to distract and trap the Leopard, then convinces

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-24536004221952686852010-12-31T08:08:00.003-06:002010-12-31T08:08:00.370-06:00

 Anansi has to trick and capture the hornet and deliver to the Sky god. He concocts a scheme involving a gourd filled with water. For the gourd art I used a real decorated gourd that was brought from Ghana by friends. It is just a souvenir and a tourist item, but it was interesting as art itself.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-5332485000858424172010-12-31T07:37:00.002-06:002010-12-31T07:37:00.504-06:00

There are many Anansi the Spider stories. All have the common theme of Anansi trying to trick somone out of something and getting tricked himself in the end. In this story Anansi wants whatever the Sky god has in his bag, which is supposed to be all the stories in the world. The Sky god says he can have it if Anansi can capture and bring to the sky The Hornet, The Snake , and The Leopard.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-56641111730942014682010-12-30T12:30:00.001-06:002010-12-30T12:53:45.862-06:00

Some things are difficult to illustrate and to inject with personality. Either they just are not cute or visually appealing (as with the South American Condor in my Girl from the Sky book) or they are very tiny, like the spider here and changing the normal dimensions of the creature can turn into a horror scene. So Anansi who actually does not have features, like a pair of cute eyes to give

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-6743132169180955642010-12-30T12:19:00.000-06:002010-12-30T12:19:51.025-06:00

   Storytelling is best done with lots of hand movement. I focused on the hands on both the character of the Storyteller and of the Sky god.  I used the art of the hands to express the emotions and energy in the story.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-64811101057867430292010-12-30T11:55:00.000-06:002010-12-30T11:55:10.651-06:00

I researched for the creation of the Sky god by visiting museums in my own area.The DuSable Museum of African American History, and The Art Institute of Chicago exhibit African masks and other artifacts. Here are some sketches from my observations. The Storybag was an invention from my imagination made of Kente cloth designs, and more colorful images I collected at museums. I have not had

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-36945987160789768352010-12-30T11:00:00.000-06:002010-12-30T13:57:45.259-06:00

Details of the storyteller's face and each of the children from my illustrations for "How Anansi Obtained the Sky God's Stories" an African Folktale from the Ashanti, published by Childrens Press of Chicago. Another element that was a major decision when I illustrated this book was how I would use media. What type of media?  Watercolor,pastels, acrylic,pencils or oil? This is a question I have

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-62012957549043146652010-12-30T10:59:00.001-06:002010-12-30T13:57:00.816-06:00

The Storyteller is essential to this traditional type of tale, telling the story that has been passed on for generations. I used a photo reference of the professional storyteller who recorded on a tape that came with the published book. I picture her with children I imagined listening by firelight in a far-away African village. I actually used my own children as models for this pose. They are not

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-68437871268691859572010-12-29T13:11:00.000-06:002010-12-30T10:59:58.191-06:00

I posted a picture of a spider back around Halloween time. This is Anansi, a character with as much or more literary history than Charlotte of "the Web' and Brer Rabbit to whom he is related. Stories about Anansi, the trickster, come from West Africa. Clever Anansi who usually appears as a spider often has his trick backfire in some comical way. I illustrated one of the Anansi stories for

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-24320551424056880392010-12-29T11:00:00.000-06:002010-12-30T11:00:32.886-06:00

The opening spread from my children's book "How Anansi Obtained the Sky God's Stories" published by Childrens Press, Chicago. This is one of my favorite spreads. I took great delight in drawing that tree, it has a personality all by itself. I imagined a village nestled under a huge baobob tree, in my research I had come across some fascinating images. These trees provide shelter, wood, shade,

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-39220987357844126952010-12-27T13:14:00.001-06:002010-12-27T19:37:47.194-06:00

Yes, we do one of these, most years, especially when we have big events, like the wedding in September. I don't write them, my husband does. This year I have put together a little banner for the top of his letter. I just collected some spots that I have done for past projects, and made up a fun thing with photoshop. I know people make fun of those annual letters, but I mean this sincerely, Merry

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-47436810183007701722010-12-26T16:10:00.000-06:002010-12-26T16:10:09.956-06:00

What's wrong with this picture?  A funny illustration sample from one of my Sunday School magazine publishing clients.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-36352575352325117822010-12-26T12:48:00.000-06:002010-12-26T12:48:07.942-06:00

Family, family, family, and wonderful friends, food, and much love.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-28133102803899140632010-12-25T08:44:00.005-06:002010-12-25T08:44:00.346-06:00

The Greatest Story ever told!" Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-28750305804108067052010-12-14T19:14:00.002-06:002010-12-14T19:16:45.199-06:00

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-52970351014019311932010-12-14T14:06:00.002-06:002010-12-14T14:06:00.586-06:00

I have been visiting a Life drawing class whenever possible. The time spent drawing and interacting with fellow artists is priceless. I am exploring a series of studies which requires a live model to draw. I have a friend, a nurse/midwife, who has opened a medical clinic serving only women. She mentioned to me that she would like to decorate with some life drawings of women's bodies shown only

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-50888526655076344932010-12-13T14:04:00.001-06:002010-12-13T14:05:49.847-06:00

I understand why many artists, writers, musicians, poets, and actors all want to live in New York City. Noisy, crowded, and nerve-wracking; yet exciting and stimulating to all the senses. I recently enjoyed several days there, walking and looking, absorbing the richness of visual images. I wanted to visit as many museums as possible. One visit that stands out was to the Frick Collection. It isn't

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-79078748448791781152010-12-12T18:19:00.003-06:002010-12-13T13:09:26.640-06:00

Isaiah 7:14...He will be called Immanuel which means God is with us. This little line drawing was originally a birth announcement for a baby boy born on this day.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-14956924048130528582010-11-07T18:54:00.012-06:002010-11-08T09:30:07.775-06:00

Today is All Saints Day in the liturgical church calendar. It is a traditional day for baptisms and renewal of baptismal vows. I drew this vase with these white roses today. I focused on the purity of line and value as a spiritual exercise. I had purchased white roses this past week after reading an article on the significance of white roses and white candles for purifying the home during this

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750928749679564329.post-34076301865382085062010-11-02T15:47:00.004-05:002010-12-13T16:32:21.487-06:00

My paintings for the church were returned to me so I can show a final scanned image. I am selling these if anyone is interested-contact the artist. Two canvases,  each 10"by10" , acrylic.

Janice Skivingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com2