JEN KELLER ART

Well, it has been a long time coming but I finally updated my online portfolio and website! Log on and check out the fresh look, as well as some of my newer illustrations, news about my ETSY shop, and soon to be published Native American Book. Log onto JenKellerArt.com and enjoy!

I'm so excited to announce my new Greeting Cards now available on ETSY!  Among the variety of cards and invites that I have already been offering, I now have a Birthday , Friendship , Congrats & Valentine cards. You can get them individually or get the variety JenKellerArt Six Pack featuring one of each! In addition to this I'm happy to also announce my new Holiday Card available in a packs of 10.  The artwork was originally done for the Palo Alto Humane Society , and in the spirit of giving, this year I will be donating a portion of the profits from the sale of the card back to the Humane Society. So this year when looking for the perfect card for that special occasion - look no further! JenKellerArt Cards are there to help... ;-) !

It's been a long couple of months, but I finally finished the last few chapters of the Native American Book for Nomad Press .  It was a really interesting journey, and I learned quite a bit about Native Americans.  I think these books will be great for kids and open their minds up to numerous different cultures in North America. Pacific Northwest Totem Pole The last two chapters I worked on were about The Pacific Northwest and The Arctic.  They were both equally fascinating and very different, but with certain similarities like the sea life they hunted and their coastal lifestyle.  The Arctic tribes had more weather issues, however! Traditional Inuit Dress I'm happy to share with you a small selection of these final chapters.  Working on these books was a great experience in not only process, but in subject matter as well. Enjoy! Summer/Spring Inuit Tent Village Inside of a Northwest Tribe Plank/Longhouse Inuit One Foot High Kick...

I just finished the one of the larger chapters about the Plains Natives in the Native American Book for Nomad Press .  It was really interesting and fun to do. Winter Count - Type of Native American calender and/or history record  Being from Illinois, I have a sentimental attachment to this part of country.  Growing up, the Plains Native Americans were a part of my own local history.  Since then I have learned so much more, but I still have a great deal of affection for this region. War Bonnet - Number of Feathers represent good deeds done by the wearer.  For a warrior it was for deeds in battle, for a chief it was for deeds done in he community.      So here are a few images from the lengthy and fascinating chapter on the Plains Native Americans.  Even with some of my prior knowledge, I still learned more about the details of their culture, games, and lifestyle.  Pretty interesting stuff! Smoke Signals Native A...

I'm still plugging along on the educational book, Explore Native Americans! for Nomad Press.  I recently finished the 2nd & 3rd Chapters covering Native American Tribes for both the American Southeast, Southwest, and Mesoamerica. Typical Seminole Housing: Chickee Adobe Pueblo Housing of the Southwestern Tribes (Hopi & Zuni)  Much like the first few chapters, I continue to learn more about Native Americans.  Things that are vaguely familiar to me about these regions become much more concrete and certain elements are completely new to me, like the game of Chunkey played by the Natives of the American Southeast. Boys from southeastern tribes playing "Chunkey" So here is a small sampling of these two chapters covering numerous tribes like Cherokee, Seminole, Hopi, Zuni, Navaho, Mayan, and many, many more... Cherokee Tribal Council House Representing the Seven Clans Ancient Southwestern Cliff Dwelling ( Mesa Verde ) Navaho Medicine...

Memorial Day holiday weekend always marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer! In order to celebrate the coming months I thought I'd share my most recent wedding invitation with custom artwork done for a private client. Wishing everyone a fantastic summer full of fun, love, and everything in between...!

So I was planning on doing a post this morning about some of my new work, but it just didn't seem right considering the events that have recently transpired.  Maurice Sendak, one of the most influential writer/illustrators of the childrens literature world, passed away today. Maurice Sendak: 1928 - 2012 I don't believe I need to list a catalogue of great things Maurice Sendak did, because if you are reading this you undoubtedly are already a fan, or at least know of his work.  Mr. Sendak was nothing if not cutting edge, dark, with a twist of lighthearted fun.  In a portfolio review I had at my first SCBWI conference a book designer from Simon & Schuster told me that elements of my work had a darkness to it.  She went on to say that Maurice Sendak had recently given a talk and believed that this was an element missing from current picture books. Children liked to be scared and know at the end that they will be okay.  I was so flattered by this...

This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend a horse clinic run by world class horseman and clinician, Buck Brannaman.  For anybody out there who hasn't heard of Buck, you should get yourself in front of a TV and watch the 2011 documentary made about him.  You don't have to be a horse lover to appreciate it, it's more about being human than anything.  Here's a little taste.... That being said - I'm sure you're wondering - what does this have to do with your artwork? Well, I truly believe that inspiration comes from all sorts of different places and this week my inspiration happens to come from a cowboy and the four legged friends he helps.  I came to the clinic armed with my sketchpad and prismacolors - ready to tackle some animal life drawing and to continue to hone my equine drawing skills (along with absorbing as much horseman knowledge that I could).  I love horses and have been riding for awhile, but I'...