Joyce Howell is the nationally recognized painter of locally stylized U.S. Flags. Joyce Howell began her career developing a special design image for Filenes Department Stores that could be used as a logo for a gift boutique within their stores. The design was licensed to 35 different manufactures. The product categories included apparel for men, women and children, as well as the home furnishing and gift areas. The boutiques were set up in eight stores in three states. There were promotions within each store including entertainment. The merchandise was available on all floors within appropriate departments as well as the ground floor boutique. Shoppers entering the boutique would purchase several different items at a time. The enormous success was unanticipated and the stores ran out of merchandise.The president of Filenes brought Joyce to New York and introduced her to the top executives at Federated Corporate. She was encouraged to develop her own label as a vehicle for licensing her designs. She developed her own line of clothing and home furnishings with product distributed to major department and specialty stores throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. The line was designed and positioned to be an American version of the Laura Ashley concept. The Joyce Howell logo and label was designed to reflect this.
This program was so successful that a major corporation approached Joyce to open 12 stores in the United States. She was flown to Portland, Maine, to meet with architects to discuss the design of the stores. She was also flown to several shopping malls to view store space and to meet with executives. Joyce was involved with every detail of the first store right down to the light switches and layout. Each additional store that rolled out would be exactly the same whether it was in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Alexandria, Virginia or Short Hills, New Jersey. The stores were set up with a seating area to reflect her comfortable American lifestyle. Meanwhile, Joyce’s wallpaper book, bedding and clothing programs continued to expand and sell well across the board.
The retired chairman of Federated Department Stores introduced Joyce to the chairman of a major apparel manufacturer. This manufacturer opened a Joyce Howell Division and began manufacturing a line of sportswear designed by Joyce, for women and men. A children’s line was to follow. A show room at 1440 Broadway was set up with early American pine and maple furniture to reflect her American style. The walls were papered with Joyce Howell wallpaper designs and the furniture upholstered with Joyce Howell fabrics. A president was hired for the new Joyce Howell Division and relocated from England with his family in time to begin the new school year. The company was sampling up around the world when the effects of the stock market crash coupled with a buy-out, ousted the chairman of the board and brought this segment to a grinding halt two weeks before market week.
Several of the mentors involved continued to believe in this program and arranged for Joyce to meet in England, with several retail executives. The meeting was very favorable and they decided to sample up a clothing line for the European markets while things settled down in the States. Joyce began commuting to London. (Six weeks in London and two weeks at home for approximately a year.) Joyce designed and sampled up a sportswear line for women through Crombie and Jaeger to be sold in Joyce Howell “shoppy shops” established in Harrods, Peter Jones and Harvey Nichols with one freestanding Joyce Howell Shop to be opened on Moulton Street. (The line was also sized for the German market and other European countries.) The home furnishing line continued to do well in the US and plans to merge the two operations as the retail climate improved around the world were implemented. However, the retail climate was not regaining its strength in the apparel area with the exception of Japan. Joyce returned to the US. At this point in time, only the children’s area was growing at the retail level.
A Bloomingdale’s executive suggested that Joyce turn a two-dimensional design of a whale (that was part of her wallpaper collection) into an animated children’s character in the manner of Paddington Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Snoopy. She did. Within a year, a new children’s character, Winslow Whaleâ was born. The first book in the series was published by Viking Penguin and a Federated supplier sampled up a plush toy.
Winslow is a loveable little whale with three hearts coming out of his spout. His first mission is to discover the meaning of his hearts. This new children’s character rapidly demonstrated a potential for becoming a teaching tool in the schools. A series of CD-ROM programs for elementary school media centers are being discussed along with a series 26 animated adventure stories for television. Joyce has collaborated with educators to create and develop enrichment programs for grades K –6 in elementary schools. Individual PTA groups are currently funding and supporting elementary school visits in the tri-state area. The New York Times ran a full-page feature story with three photographs, about Winslow and his accomplishments, in the Sunday edition.
Meet Winslow Whale, the first book in the series of adventures, was selected for the BOOK-IN-A-BAG program for several school districts. An international children’s program ICE along with the BBC have requested permission to use Winslow to promote English language skills. Joyce has been a featured speaker at the NJEMA Conference in NJ, the Teachers of Independent Schools Conference in NYC and The Southern Connecticut Library Conference. The program is currently in line for funding from the Broward County Public School system in, Florida. She is currently on the faculty of the Silvermine School of Art, in New Canaan, CT., where she teaches writing and illustrating children’s books. She is scheduled to begin teaching the same course at Norwalk Community College this summer. Joyce continues to write and illustrate new books.
Prior to her experience as a designer, writer and illustrator, Joyce was a landscape painter exhibiting in the New England area. Recently, she began a series of flag paintings based on the image of the American flag called the “SPIRIT OF AMERICA SERIES.” Joyce is currently working on a book incorporating this series. It celebrates the essence of what is known as the “the original spirit of America” that nourished the small towns and villages across the country. There may be a series of United States Postal Stamps produced from this series. There are approximately 125 images and the series continues to grow. Many of the paintings from this series are in private collections. In addition, American Towns Network has commissioned a painting from this collection to be featured on their website and to be used as a fund raising poster by towns across the USA. As an example, the town of New Canaan will receive funds to help the fire department buy a thermal imaging Camera.
Joyce has been interviewed by major television networks, has been featured in prominent magazines, appeared on industry panels and has been invited to speak on subjects related to her work.
Fine Arts – The Boston Museum School of Fine Arts
Graduate Studies - Philosophy – Harvard University
Exhibiting artist with shows booked through the year 2012.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – Author & Illustrator
Faculty member – Silvermine School of Art, New Canaan, CT. 1998-2007
Visiting Artist & Author programs for elementary schools
Co-President - Rowayton Arts Center July 2002 - 2004
Speaker and panelist – industry panels and children’s issues
Fund raising – local organizations
I have always loved the image of the American flag. The idea of a star for every state, “one nation under God”, harmonious existence, and unity bring thoughts of idyllic small towns and villages.
From the time that I was a small child, I have images in my mind of my father installing a flagpole in our backyard each time we moved, and raising the American Flag. Over the years we accumulated other flags which were added to the display; sailing club burges and simple flags of celebration. Eventually, a Winslow Whale flag was added, but the stars & stripes continued to fly above them all.
For me, the American flag is a living legacy of all those who have gone before us, believing in the need for liberty, the freedom to grow, and continues to beckon each one of us to be the best we can be. Whenever I travel abroad, I love the experience of passing through customs upon my arrival in the USA and having my passport returned to me with the words, “welcome home”.
As an artist, I suppose that I am an idealist. During my days at The Boston Museum School of Fine Art, I fell in love with the flag images of Jasper Johns, while finding my own path through landscape painting, never dreaming that years later I would be inspired to combine my love for the American flag with landscape painting.
American Towns Network has chosen a version of the painting “Main Street-USA” to be featured on their new website that will eventually be available to every town across the United States.
All paintings and images are copyrighted with trademarks and patents pending. Specific images may be commissioned. Currently, each image is hand painted in gouache with the title and study number appearing below the mat.
HISTORY OF THE FLAG PAINTING SERIES
During the 1980’s, Howell designed a series of home-furnishing collections under the label JOYCE HOWELL DESIGNS, INC., marketed through department and specialty stores throughout the USA and the UK. Howell’s themes are often inspired by American traditions and images.
The current flag painting concept entitled “SPIRIT OF AMERICA™SERIES”, began with illustrated images inspired by the song America The Beautiful, and has grown to include scenes from around the country set within the field of stars while including the red and white stripes of the American flag. Small country villages, seaside towns, holiday celebrations and regional vistas capture the essence of the varying landscapes to be found across the United States.
A book is in development featuring the “SPIRIT OF AMERICA™ SERIES”. It will be a portrait of America through the flag painting images paired with commentary and insights celebrating the beauty of our land as well as the spirit that originally shaped our country.
Gallery exhibits are booked through the year 2009. Several museums will be coordinating special events connected to with this series.
In addition, several of the flag paintings are being considered for a series of U.S. postal stamps.
Winslow has a special gift - for you!
There was great excitement under the sea on the day Winslow was born, for the arrival of a new baby whale was a joyful event. But as everyone gathered to admire Winslwo, they saw an astonishing sight. On top of Winslow's head were three hearts. Why did he have them? What did they signify? Were they for protection? Decoration? Everyone is special in some way, his parents tell Winslwo; you must find out why you have this special attribute.
Children will be enchanted by the adventures of the lovable little whale, as Winslow sets out to discover what his particular special gift might be.
Every Winslow book contains a gift of a heart from Winslow to the reader. Watch for Winslow as a plush toy, and on children's clothing, bedding, and wallcovering.
American Town Network chose “Main Street-USA” Study #1 to be featured on their website.
All paintings and images are copyrighted with trademarks and patents pending. There are approximately 150 images to date. Several of the paintings are in major private collections.
All paintings are original, matted and framed. Commissions are welcome.
Children will be enchanted by the adventures of the lovable little whale, as Winslow sets out to discover what his particular special gift might be.
Every Winslow book contains a gift of a heart from Winslow to the reader. Watch for Winslow as a plush toy, and on children's clothing, bedding, and wallcovering.
Artist and Author Joyce Howell offers several enrichment programs designed to foster learning and creativity in all educational settings.
To contact Joyce for an appointment or references e-mail her at
Every Winslow book contains a gift of a heart from Winslow to the reader. Watch for Winslow as a plush toy, and on children's clothing, bedding, and wallcovering.
Author and illustrator Joyce Howell will demonstrate the creative process for illustrating, writing, revising and editing her books, showing that she uses the same writing procedures that students are learning in school. She brings a series of storyboards showing the step by step process for developing a story and a "dummy" of her second book in the Winslow Whale series, Winslow Meets Max, showing the process for pasting up a book for publication. The storyboards are interactive and informative. Educators have guided her to develop a program that supports and strengthens writing and communication skills according to grade level, based on curriculum requirements. Interwoven into her program according to grade level, is an interactive exercise to demonstrate that we give our own hearts away just as Winslow does, through our own qualities of caring, sharing, giving etc. Following a question and answer period, each class receives a writing project according to grade level and comprehension skills for the teachers to follow-up with at their convenience. A copy of the book MEET WINSLOW WHALE will be sent to the school in advance of each visit to be read to grades one through four. Joyce reads the book to kindergarten classes. At the end of the visit the book will be signed and donated to the school library.
Joyce brings her storyboards and books to demonstrate the writing and illustrating process. She discusses the techniques that help her to successfully develop a story and to come up with creative ideas. In addition, Joyce demonstrates that it only takes one good idea to inspire a career or develop a business. The emphasis is on "where one good idea can lead," as well as the importance of learning the skills necessary to write and communicate well. Question and answer period.
FEE: Five hundred dollars a day. Joyce will make four presentations of 50 minutes each, including two 20-minute presentations to Kindergarten groups. She will lunch with the students or teachers according to the schools preference.
Hands-on writing workshops. Students write and illustrate their own book. Each student has a one on one session with the author. All grades.
FEE: Five hundred dollars a day. A minimum of two days required. Custom tailored for each school.
A presentation for the PTA or other interested groups. Author will discuss the process for creating a children's character, including the world of licensing, and the importance of television programming. Joyce will demonstrate how one good idea can lead to a global business. Question and answer period.
FEE: Varies - contact me for details.