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| Jan Eliot is the 2005–2006 Distinguished Alumni Fellow in Humanities |
Most Nefarious Deeds:
Creator of internationally syndicated comic strip Stone Soup, featuring the exploits of the Stones, a modern, blended family. “Stone Soup” refers to a fairy tale in which community members contribute what little they have to a soup pot, and which ends in a rich feast none of the villagers thought possible. As Jan says, the story is about “…creating something from nothing. This is what parents, especially single parents, often must do.”
University Ties:
Graduated from UO Honors College in 1977 with a degree in Independent Studies, combining Women’s Studies and English.
Aliases:
Jan has worn many hats on her journey towards syndication. Mother of Two, Potter, Bookmobile Librarian, Car Salesperson, Graphic Designer and Advertising Copy Writer are a few of the titles she has held. Throughout it all, she continued to work on Stone Soup, a perfect outlet for life’s frustrations.
Accomplices:
Jan currently shares her headquarters with Lily and Sydney (dogs) and her husband, Ted (human).
Stomping Grounds:
Born in San Jose, California, Jan spent much of her childhood in Illinois, studying art at Southern Illinois University. She lived in Sitka, Alaska for one year before moving to rural Oregon and eventually settling permanently in Eugene.
Current Mission:
“…to reflect real life in her strip, because finding the humor in reality is the only way to survive it.”
Influences:
Nicole Hollander, creator of Sylvia; Lynn Johnston, creator of For Better or for Worse; Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes; Claire Bretecher, a French cartoonist; and Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts. Jan spoke at the opening of his Norman Rockwell Museum exhibition, Speak Softly and Carry a Beagle: The Art of Charles Schulz. Jan’s grandmothers, one a published poet and one an artist, also inspired her to push to make a living at art, something both of them aspired to do.
Remember When:
Before she made it, Jan would copy her comic enough times to become dingy-looking, then paste it on top of another comic in the funny pages for the feeling of someday seeing her work in the newspaper.
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