The main focus of the teaching programs is learning to see better, the basis for good realistic drawing and painting.


Students work on their own project at their own speed. Drafting tables are separated to promote better focus. The choice of media includes watercolors, pencil, colored pencils, pastels, oil pastels, pen and ink and acrylics. A large photo reference file is available with everything from animals, landscapes, people to cartoons. Reference material from home is encouraged. Students should draw and paint what is of interest to them. From here, guidance towards better drawing and color theory, is a more enjoyable adventure.


Karen Jerome Skillins has been in her Needham, studio for over twenty two years. She is the illustrator of numerous children’s books, winner of major art awards and an exhibitor in national and international exhibitions. Teaching is also a passion and the studio has been a place for creative minds to expand for over twelve years.


The art programs are for ages 9 to 16. The class size is between five and eight students. In good weather, bikes can be locked to the railing out front.

Karen's Published Works

Karen Jerome Skillins Illustrated Books and Client List

Picture Books
2006
SOMETIMES SMART IS GOOD, by Dena Luchsinger
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, MI
2005
JUST ADD ONE CHINESE SISTER, by Patricia McMahon,
Boyds Mills Press, Honesdale, PA
2003
SILENT DREAMS, by Dandi Daley Mackall,
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, MI
2001
WHEN IT RAINED CATS AND DOGS, by Nancy Byrd Turner,
Meadow Geese Press, Marshfield Hills, MA
2000
IF NATHAN WERE HERE, by Mary Bahr Fritts,
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, MI
HARRY AND THE FOX, full color picture book,
school division, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA
  
SUMMERS' END, Adult literacy full color picture book,
school division, NTC/Contemporary Publishing,
Lincolnwood, IL
  
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?, Adult literacy full color
picture book, school division, NTC/Contemporary
Publishing, Lincolnwood, IL
1999
MOMMY, WOULD GOD STILL LOVE ME?, by Laura Wallace,
Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc., Baltimore, MD
VI A SUSANA CON LA NENA, black and white book,
school division Scott Foresman Addison Wesley,
Glenview, IL
  
QUE NOS TRAERA EL FUTURO?, black and white book,
school division, Scott Foresman Addison Wesley,
Glenview, IL
  
SIMPLES COSTUMBROES, black and white book,
Scott Foresman Addison Wesley, Glenview, IL
  
RAISING CHICKENS, full color picture book,
Scott Foresman Addison Wesley, New York, NY
1998
THE LITTLEST TREE, by Charles Tazewell,
Ideals Children's Books, Nashville, TN
1997
MEET LASSIE, by Ann Tellen,
Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc., Baltimore, MD
   
PLAY WITH LASSIE, by Ann Tellen,
Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc., Baltimore, MD
   
LASSIE SAVES A KITTEN, by Ann Tellen,
Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc., Baltimore, MD
1995
LEARNING ABOUT AIDS AND OTHER DISEASES,
by David C. King, Weekly Reader, Middletown, CT

Chapter Books
1995
THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY SHAMROCK MYSTERY,
by Marion M. Markham, Houghton Mifflin Co,
Boston, MA
1993
TEETH WEEK, by Nancy Alberts, Scholastic, Inc.,
New York, NY
1992
THE VALENTINE'S DAY MYSTERY, by Marion M. Markam,
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA
   
TRICKSTER GHOST, by Ellen Showell, Scholastic, Inc.,
New York, NY
1991
THE SHINIEST ROCK OF ALL, by Nancy Ruth Patterson,
Farrar Straus and Giroux, NewYork, NY

Book Jackets
1996    
MARGO'S HOUSE, by Peni R. Griffin, McElderry Books,
Simon and Schuster, New York, NY
    
DRAGONFLY SECRET, by Carolyn J. Gold, Atheneum Books,
Simon and Schuster, New York, NY

Magazines 
2000    
Cricket Magazine Group, full color, Peru, IL, July Issue

School Division
2004 
HARCOURT ARCHIVES SERIES, b&w interiors
Harcourt Brace, Orlando, FL
2003 
BOOK TREKS/Sky Myths, full color story,
Pearson Learning, Parssipony, NJ
         
WHALE MUSIC, full color cover, b&w interiors,
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA
         
SAVING WILD ONE, full color cover, b&w interiors,
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA
         
PILAR SPEAKS UP, full color cover, b&w interiors,
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA

CHINATOWN SUNDAY, full color story, SRA/McGraw-Hill,
Columbus,OH
2001 
THE RAIN AND THE SNOW, full color story,
Harcourt Brace, Orlando, FL
            
THE BRACELET, full color story, SRA/McGraw-Hill,
 Columbus, Ohio
            
THE JOURNAL OF WONG MING-CHUNG, full color story,
SRA/McGraw-Hill, Columbus, Ohio
1996    
Kindergarten reading program, borders, Harcourt Brace,
Orlando, FL
         
Kindergarten plays, full color story, Harcourt Brace,
Orlando, FL

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)