Featured Artist: Jane Jones

JANE JONES is a Colorado native who lives near the foot of her beloved Rocky Mountains, where the light that she loves is bright and clear, and the seasons, which influence her work, are definite in their character and moods.Earning her B.S. in biology in 1976, Jones chose not to work in that field. She says of her education: “Looking into the lives of cells, plants and animals gave me a glimpse into the awesome power of living things and an incredible respect for them,” a respect evident in her work today.Jones later graduated from art school, and went on to earn a Masters in Art History, which she taught at two Colorado colleges in for more than 20 years. Through art history studies she came to know the lives and styles of many of the master artists of the past. Two artists whose work has influenced her are Michelangelo for his dedication to his work, clarity of composition and communication, and the paintings of Johannes Vermeer which have influenced her aesthetic of light in painting as well as her technique. The Dutch still life and floral masters have enriched Jones’ sense of historical roots in subject matter. They remind her that an appreciation and aesthetic of beauty in ordinary things has a long and rich tradition.She has embraced these historical influences, but it is her belief that each artist must be of her own time and place. However, Jones uses these influences to create paintings that are contemporary and based in her own aesthetics, beliefs and life experiences. Her art reflects her academic studies as well as her passion for the power, beauty and fragility of life.Jones’ paintings have won numerous national awards including the Award of Excellence inBlossoms II: Art of Flowers at the Naples Museum of Art 2011, and she is the author ofClassic Still Life Painting. She currently teaches at The Art Student’s League in her home state, based on the format and traditions of its namesake in New York.Jones is the author of Classic Still Life Painting. Her luminous work is exhibited nationally in museums and galleries and is published by Gallery Giclées™.