Jacqueline Ernst

	Jaki Ernst is a native Californian who believes pigs can fly! Those who visit her busy studio and showroom soon fall under the spell of her 'can-do' attitude and whimsical sense of humor. Here is a woman who dances with dogs and trusts the maxim Leap! A Net Will Appear! Ernst and her Shetland Sheepdog, 'Z'elle, perform tango and
swing routines at local ballrooms, participate in improvisational comedy on public access TV, and volunteer in hospitals and nursing homes as members of Therapy Dogs International, Inc.

She has studied and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Her research in Italian fourteenth century manuscript illumination was awarded the declaration ottimo profitto from the Universita Italiana Per Stranieri at Perugia, Italy. Enrollment in the University of California at Santa Barbara, was followed by receipt of a fully paid scholarship in interior design at Bauder College, Sacramento, California. Consequently her education has encompassed studio techniques, art history, interior design, marketing, and special courses in textile application and modern art from San Jose State University.

For over twenty years, she served as principal at Ernst Associates in Graphics, an advertising agency. She was responsible for design and production of brochures, annual reports, and logotypes, as well as print, outdoor, and radio campaigns for many of Silicon Valley's leading electronics manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and long-established businesses. She lists Acuson, Advanced Micro Devices, Monsanto, Syntex, and Almaden Vineyards among her repeat clients. Known for thinking outside the grid, her direct mail campaigns were on target and always netted more than average response (not to mention comment!).

Today Jaki designs and produces her own lines of gift products featuring whimsical cartoons and portraits of breed-specific dogs and cats. Author of numerous how-to articles for artists and two instructional books -- Journaling Junket (about artful journaling) and The Glass Slipper (a small treatise on parody postage and making Cinderella stamps which are also known as faux postage or postoids)-- Ernst also creates inspirational and humorously illustrated pop up books, artist books, and produces a bimonthly art publication titled Wingin' It..

She is an inveterate journal keeper bent on documenting her travels and experiences in word and picture in her sketchbook. She claims, "Sometimes my life just feels like a comic strip!" As if to prove it, her journals spawned By The Seat of My Pants which she shares in monthly installments on her web site.

Her workshops and classes in book arts cover creating altered books, artful journals, and feature technical input pertaining to the details of book binding, and producing hand bound books, artist books, pop ups and paper sculpture, as well as traditional methods of stitchery like hand embroidery, appliqué, quilting, and trapunto. Her mail art instruction extends to artistamps, embellished covers, and the historical value of letter writing. Classes are well organized and packed with practical tips, inspiration, and plenty of take-home templates for beginners and veteran artists alike. She instructs out of her studio, but also reaches the community through adult education programs, senior centers, and rehabilitation facilities where her methods and ability to inspire and communicate with rank beginners as well as experienced artists has been praised by both students and administrators. Jaki invites you to join her for networking, problem solving, and sharing your book arts, mail art, and journal keeping projects at Jump Start Socials held every month in her studio.

Your comments and observations are welcomed. Feel free to Contact us.