ASTRID SHECKELS
fine art & illustration
ASTRID SHECKELS
fine art & illustration
ABOUT ASTRID SHECKELS
Astrid Sheckels is a native of the small farming town of Hatfield, Massachusetts, and cannot remember a time when she was not telling or illustrating stories. She grew up with her father's and grandfather's stories, therefore it's not surprising that Astrid herself enjoys telling stories - though hers are told visually. She says that, through her illustrations, she tries to give a story more depth and dimension - to take it to a new level.
Astrid began expressing herself artistically at age 2 when she decorated her family's new wall-to-wall carpeting with wax crayons. Home schooling and private art instruction laid the foundation for her artistic education, which was formalized at Greenfield Community College.
PUBLISHING PROJECTS
Her first book is the award winning Scallop Christmas, published by Islandport Press in Fall, 2009, and she has just completed the illustrations for another children’s book entitled The Fish House Door, which will be out in Summer, 2010. She also has a number of additional children’s books in work, including several picture storybooks (Westward, Goodwill to Men), some wordless picture storybooks (Holger the Dane, Homer & Sasha, The Day I Met the King), and a number of book series (Max & Friends, Maestro Mouse). Her other projects include books with a New England-like feel (Hector Fox, Nick and Nellie, Rainy Day, and Ivy & Burl).
Astrid’s illustrations are primarily done in watercolor. Starting with a story board, she creates countless sketches and pencil drawings in the process of developing the layout of the book. Astrid goes on location photo shoots to discover the right setting and bases each of her illustrated characters on real people. many of her friends and neighbors have modeled for her.
FINE ART & STUDIO
Astrid is a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and has won a number of art awards, including the Archibald McLeish Prize for Art (2003) and the Medici Award in the Visual Arts (2004). Besides illustration, she also paints portraits and landscapes in oil on canvas and watercolor, and teaches art courses to adults and children at Artspace Community Art Center in Greenfield, as well as giving private art lessons. Astrid now lives and maintains her studio in the rolling hills of Greenfield, Massachusetts. Astrid has spent much time in her mother's homeland of Denmark and her Scandinavian roots are evident in her fine art and illustrations.
PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Astrid describes her art as "an outcropping of who I am. I am a Christian and my art reflects my world view. If you see any life, vitality, light, order, or beauty in my work, it is but a reflection of God, the Great Creator."
BOOKS:
The Fish House Door - Islandport Press , 2010 The Scallop Christmas - Islandport Press, 2009
AWARDS:
2004 - the Medici Award in the Visual Arts
2003 - the Archibald MacLeish Prize for Art
2003 - the Deerfield Valley Art Association Award in Art
MEMBERSHIPS:
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2005--, Art instructor for adults and children, Artspace Community Arts Center, Greenfield, MA
2005-2009 , Instructor for Private Art Lessons, Franklin County, MA
2005, Mural painter for an educational design company, The Holbek Group, Turners Falls, MA
2004-2008, Art teacher for a Christian and classical school, Jonathan Edwards Academy, Turners Falls, MA
RECENT EXHIBITS:
Current - St. Louis Children’s Illustrated Art Museum, St. Louis MO
2009 - South Gallery,GCC, Greenfield MA
2007 - Elusie Fine Art, Easthampton MA
2007 - Hosmer Gallery, Northampton MA
2006 - Burnett Gallery, Amherst MA
2006 - 9 Mill Street Gallery, Greenfield MA
GALLERY REPRESENTATION:
2006--, Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom, Shelburne Falls, MA
Copyright © 2010 Astrid Sheckels Fine Art