Potomac Valley Watercolorists

Featured Artist for July - Jane McElvany Coonce

The way light falls on an object has always fascinated me.  In paintings, I strive to capture the interesting effect that light plays on the subject.  I believe an artist's job is to make people notice the things that they see in everyday life but fail to really notice.  There is so much subtle beauty in the world, and it is the artists’ job to make people learn how to see it.  I began as a still life painter. It’s a great way to learn how to see and to paint. Next in my painting journey I focused on portraiture, taking many classes and painting a portrait a day until I could do them well. Arlington County commissioned me to do Judge Wiggins when she retired from the Juvenile Courts.  The portrait hangs at the Arlington County Courthouse.  I also paint landscapes –specially the views of Georgetown and the Key Bridge.  Thus, I became known for my Key Bridge/Georgetown paintings. I also like to paint the the hustle and bustle of city scenes.
 
Art is a lifetime of discovery.  I always say, “if you aren’t growing, you are dying.”  So I will continue my puzzle solving through painting, and I will enjoy it every day that I do.