Artist Spotlight: Jane Carr

Dutchman

"I was lucky to have had so many remarkable people take me under their wings. Over the course of more than sixty years, I think I have managed to become an artist. The road has been long and at times difficult, but the reward – that every day I do what I love – has made it all worthwhile." ~Jane Carr

Upstate New York landscape artist, Jane Carr has lived and worked as an artist her entire life.  She was already taking art lessons at the Baltimore Museum of Art by the age of ten, surrounded by the works of Matisse, Van Gogh and Cézanne and taking in the rich instruction of so many talented working artists.  Going on to study sculpture at the Philadelphia College of Art and then at Yale School of Art and Architecture, Jane found ongoing inspiration and mentorship through her instructors, studying under James Rosati, Louis Finklestein, Louis Kahn and Bernard Chaet among others.

Beaver Pond

Jane began working in egg tempera in high school.  Per Jane's request, her instructor found out about the medium and taught Jane.  Though she put it aside for the years in college and post graduate work, family life, and a few moves, Jane picked it up again in 1991 and found that the medium hadn't changed.  

Egg tempera is egg yolk mixed with pigment, a medium used for centuries because of it's brilliance and longevity.  Since egg tempera dries quickly, it lends itself to small strokes, like hatching, with smaller detail brushes.  
One can lay down larger areas with flats about 1/2" in size, but the good soft watercolor brushes, like the Kolinsky sable are ideal for the cross hatching.  Since the brushes don't get a lot of wear and tear with the medium, and because egg tempera is easy to wash out, good brushes should last a long time.  It is worth the investment, since higher quality hair moves and picks up the pigment more smoothly, resulting in a better working experience.

Toward Buckland

Jane says she paints in nothing but egg tempera, as the medium helps her capture the atmosphere of the landscape, a subject she has been working in for years.  She finds the landscape, the alteration of it with weather, farms and animals, gives her inspiration for her work, though she doesn't always stick to her reference photos.  She has lived in the Canadian arctic, and Devon, England, both with similar landscapes to that of central New York:  rolling hills, crisp weather and smaller populations.  While teaching in Canada, she also captured some Inuit indians in paint.  

With her full experience as an artist and instructor, Jane's work is highly sought and you can see more of her pieces on her website: JaneCarrStudio.com, or follow the progress of the Stagecoach Run Art Festival, the Smithy Pioneer Gallery and the Cooperstown Art Association's Juried Regional Show.  


Keep Painting,
Karyn

For more brush information, check out the Dynasty Brush website.