Hello, friend!
I’m excited that your eyeballs have found their way to my page! My name is Jeanne, but my closest friends call me Bean. Since I have dedicated this year to following my curiosity, I decided to dub this newsletter Notes from the Curious Bean.
I’m an illustrator that is currently working in picture books. I’ve been lucky enough to illustrate three so far! You can find them here, here, and here. I am also the Illustrator Coordinator for the Montana Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
This year I’ve decided I would like to start dabbling in other artistic endeavors alongside children’s books. Eventually, I want to open an online shop and add more videos to my Youtube channel. I also want to start making more artist books and original artwork. AND I want to start writing my own stories to illustrate! So I created this newsletter to chronicle all the ups and downs and winding side streets I find myself wandering into. After all, we are all just figuring out life as we go, right? They don’t give you a manual or anything, right? Right? (If you have a manual, can I get a copy? Please?)
Why subscribe?
If you are someone interested in fairy-tales, folktales, mythology, bestiaries, and children’s books I intend to make and share a lot of in-depth behind the scenes material (videos, photos, snippets) of me making work related to these topics
If you are someone interested in learning how this particular artist figures out how to make diversified income from multiple artistic endeavors, this might be helpful to you. (I’ll be trying to lead by example here)
If you are a person that struggles with anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and other kinds of painful mental struggles, you might enjoy reading how I’ve learned to deal with my personal mashup of inner demons (for the most part).
If you always wanted to be an artist, but didn’t get to go to art school, I’ll leverage my $80k art school education and give you lessons for free because frankly, I am still bothered that it cost me this much money to learn how to be an artist.
If you want to be part of The Ugly Sketchbook Club- a place to share your non-aesthetically pleasing artwork, get prompts, and sketch with friends, then this is the door to get you there! (I just have to build the room beyond the door- coming soon, I promise!)
If you just want to be a pal and support me and earn my eternal gratitude and appreciation.
What should I expect?
I’m aiming to release a new 100% free newsletter monthly.
Eventually, down the road, in the future… I intend on hosting a lot of draw with me sessions as well as offering critique slots and mentoring for artists. This is another good reason to subscribe- so you don’t miss the announcements! These will be part of paid subscriptions, once I get my ducks in a row and figure that out. (As a recovering perfectionist, my rule in life is to jump before I feel ready and figure it out as I go- even though it scares me.)
Where can I find more of your work?
