Jill (Jillybean) Fitzhenry 

Surrounded with the beautiful china paintings by her grandmother and photograph paintings by her mother, Jillybean grew up in a world of arts and crafts. Jillybean is a nick name for Jill and was affectionately called this by her family and friends since she was a little girl. She has taken great pleasure in drawing since the day she was born.

Her love of painting burst wide open in the 1970s when she was introduced to decorative painting by a Bavarian Folk Art painter named Pipka. The easy way decorative painting can be taught was so exciting she began incorporating her own designs into this method of teaching. Her four children served as inspiration for her first designs and now her first granddaughter will help fill that position.   

Today Jillybean is the current President of the Society of Decorative Painters. She is internationally recognized as a top Designer, Instructor and Author. She has been deeply involved in Art education and has taught drawing and painting to everyone from children to TV audiences. Her popular teaching methods and easy to learn drawing and painting techniques have been incorporated into instructional materials, educational seminars and products.

Jillybean's Accomplishments:

Graphic Designer

• Design work includes: flyers, ads, step by step techniques, rack headers product packaging, books, video jackets, catalogs, etc. Design work involves photo retouching, computer generated line art, color imaging and preparing camera ready layouts. Clients include FM Brush Mfg. Inc., Mayco Colors, Fiskars, Craft House, Culligan, Royal Brush, Binney & Smith (Crayola Crayons), B&B etchall, Englander Dental and more.
  

• Original Designs by Jillybean - Embossing Stencils for Fiskars - Paint by Number Designs for Craft House - Rub-on Transfers, Engraving Foils and Paint by Number for Royal Brush - Brush Stroke Designs, Brush Sets with Pullout Instructions and Ads for FM Brush.

• Mac Programs used: Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand, Adobe in Design, Quark, Word, Excel, etc.

Marketing Consultant

• Member of The Society of Decorative Painters - a non profit organization with 22,000 members world wide. Currently serving as President. Previously served as Vice President, Boardmember at Large, on the Business Committee, PR Committee, taught at many conventions over the last 25 years including panel discussions for Business Events.

• FM Brush - Currently on the Design Team for testing brushes for technical accuracy, participating in developing new products, illustrations, advertisements, instructions and seminars.

• DecoArt - Currently a Helping Artist and developing educational seminars and product instructions.

• Mayco Colors Inc. - 2003 -2004 Developed the Mayco Creative Partners educational program which included: Pay for Publications Program, Demonstrator and Designer events, product marketing, new packaging, booth displays and website projects.

• Royal Brush - 1990 - 2003 Graphic Designer and then Director of Education developed the Ambassador program, Supporting Artist Program, Pay for Publications, Teachers Newsletter, Designers Program, Special Events, Teacher Gatherings, package design, catalog layouts, magazine ads, Rub-On Transfer Designs, Paint by Numbers designs, Engraving Foil designs and general PR work.

• Binney and Smith Inc. - In the 1980's consultant for (Crayola Crayons), Liquitex Art Products Division preparing and conducting nation wide educational seminars. Developed the Liquitex Certified Instructors program. Writing and illustrating technique sheets and manuals on product benefits and application.

• Better Homes and Gardens - In the 1980's helped launch the Decorative Woodcrafts Magazine. Was an editorial consultant, proofing editorials for technical accuracy, illustrations for Tips column and Brush Stroke Basics column in Decorative Woodcrafts.

Decorative Arts Instructor

• Internationally Known -Developed a widely known trade name (Jillybean) with a distinctive style of painting techniques and applications on all surfaces.

• Designer - Developed a simplified method of breaking down the components of a design for purpose of teaching. Original designs include Faces, Floral, Fabric, Victorian, Seasonal, Santas, Angels and Special Finishes.

• Travel Teacher - Conducting extensive seminars throughout the United States, Canada, UK, Italy and Columbia. Seminars include Decorative Art Clubs, conventions, retail shops, distributors, and manufacturers.

• Video and TV appearances demonstrating painting and crafting projects for Walnut Hallow, Royal Brush, David Larson Productions and Jansen Art Traditions.

Author

• Books - Author of numerous How To Paint, Craft and Draw Books sold internationally.

• Magazine Articles - original designs published in national magazines: Better Homes and Gardens, Craft Works, Woman's Day, Decorative Painter, Decorative Artist Workbook, Tole Painting USA, Paintworks, Quick & Easy Painting, Tole World and more.
• Pattern Packets - Over 200 produced and sold internationally. Packets include: A project photo, painting instructions and pattern.