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Since 2006, the artwork of SCBWI member and writer/illustrator Jeanne Balsam has graced the pages of Just Frenchies magazine, a quarterly publication devoted to the French Bulldog. Towards the end of last year, the publisher and editor of the magazine submitted Jeanne’s artwork to the DWAA, (Dog Writers Association of America), for consideration of an award.

Much to Jeanne’s delight, (and surprise, as she didn’t know she’d been submitted), she was announced as one of 5 finalists for Excellence in Illustration or Painting, competing against artists featured in Dog Fancy and the AKC Gazette. This little Frenchie with her flower hat was the image submitted on her behalf by Just Frenchies. Although she did not win her category, Jeanne was honored in being named a finalist by this prestigious national organization of writers and artists whose only subject is dogs.

Jeanne thought others may also enjoy the pup with flowered hat and created the image into blank notecards available for purchase on her web site, www.jeannebalsam.com. ( http://jeannebalsam.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=186&catid=35).

Below are two other recent illustrations Jeanne did for Just Frenchies, one for a Frenchies tracking article and another for an article on French Bulldog collectibles, where a puppy is featured with a Steiff pull toy.

Congratulations Jeanne!  We love your bulldogs.  Glad to see you being rewarded for your talent.

Jeanne suggests that children’s book illustrators may also find opportunities to have their art published by contacting publications that focus on areas of special interest and/or expertise of the artist, as she did.

In the Publishing Industry:

Publisher of the Golden Books Young Readers Group Kate Klimo is stepping down as of March 31, Random House Children’s president and publisher Chip Gibson announced internally on Friday. Gibson notes, “she is certainly a towering figure in the world of publishing, and over the course of her 40-year career, Kate has changed the face of children’s books.”

Editor-in-chief of Random House Books for Young Readers Mallory Loehr will add to her responsibilities as publishing director of the Golden group on March 31, reporting to Gibson. She will manage both the editorial and art departments for both groups.

Golden Books editor-in-chief Chris Angelilli will be promoted to editor-in-chief, executive director, licensed publishing. As part of his new duties he will also oversee Random House Children’s new partnership with Nickelodeon, where it will be the television company’s primary book publisher as of spring 2013.

At Bloomsbury Children’s and Walker Children’s, Katy Hershberger has been promoted to director of publicity.

Writers House founder and chairman Al Zuckerman is stepping down from his leadership position. President Amy Berkower will take over as chairman and Simon Lipskar will serve as president of the agency, which employs 43 people. Zuc

Once you look at Jeanne Balsam’s art, I think you will realize that Jeanne has been in love all her life. In love with animals, that is. From her first steps toddling up to hug her cousin’s Beagle, Jeanne has been entranced by animals of every kind right through to today where they are a rich source of inspiration in her writing and illustrating.

After completing her B.F.A. at Pratt Institute, Jeanne continued her post-graduate studies there in Art Therapy. But it was when she studied the writing and illustrating of children’s books with Uri Shulevitz at the New School that Jeanne discovered her heart’s desire. Through a long and circuitous route, which included a major career change or two, Jeanne has finally returned to her dream. Her stories and illustrations focus on the special magic of animals and the children who discover it.

A Graphic Designer by trade, Jeanne’s artwork has been published quarterly since 2003 in Just Frenchies magazine to present and Just Terriers magazine until its closing in 2009. Her extensive drawing of the French Bulldog has inspired more than one of her current children’s books as well as a small business in French Bulldog art.

Jeanne’s illustrations are primarily in colored pencil and/or in watercolor colored pencil. She also works in watercolor and pen and ink and combinations of all these media.

Places Jeanne has carved out to do her artwork and writing.  she says, “I actually work in two different spaces. If I’m doing spot art or working on a dummy, etc. and/or may need the computer, I tend to work in my downstairs space. When I am working on finished illustrations, I work in my upstairs studio space – quiet at the moment – where all my art supplies and children’s books are. It is when I am working here that I focus most deeply and am most inspired.”

Here is a black and white drawing Jeanne did of little Jeanne.

 Here is some sketches and the final art from one of Jeann’s projects. Jeanne says, “French Bulldogs have a wide variety of facial expressions – a big part of their appeal. I wanted to capture their mischievous attitude in this drawing. At first I did a bunch of drawings with cupcakes, (but went for Christmas cookies instead), then of them climbing on the table, and finally ON the table, totally into the cookies and caught red-handed!”

9 Comments on Illustrator Saturday – Jeanne Balsam, last added: 8/31/2010