Point Arena Lighthouse – Whale Watch Room Gallery Opening Reception – Jane Casner Mothersill

I would describe my art as “inspired realism” – interpretations and visual expression emanating from my interaction with nature, people, cultures, and ideas. While unequivocally representational, I work to convey broader messages in its execution, seeking to elicit emotional and intellectual responses from the viewer. Concepts such as truth, beauty, and conflict, as well as temporal and cultural elements, underpin my work, which encompasses oil, pastel, charcoal, and mixed media paintings and terra cotta and bronze sculptures.

My landscape paintings are completed substantially on site – where I can feel the intimacy of nature and the confluence of elements that impact one’s perception of their surroundings. My still lifes, which are undertaken primarily in my studio, are often symbolic in conveying a sense of beauty that lies in the world within – occasionally incorporating diverse and culturally specific elements in telling their stories. My figurative works tend to be emotional, conveying feelings of or toward my subject.

In the Whale Watch Gallery, I will be displaying a number of works I have undertaken at the Point Arena Lighthouse specifically for this exhibit, including paintings completed both from the lighthouse tower and in the surrounding environs. The microclimate of the lighthouse point provided various weather experiences on the days I was painting, resulting in different atmospheres and moods as the light and shadows changed. I endeavored to capture these unique and fleeting moments in each of my paintings. I have worked mostly in pastels for this exhibit, which are ideal for Plein Aire painting on site, but I have also included two oil paintings, which were finished in my studio.

My development as a practicing artist has been inexorably tied to my life arc and experiences. After graduating from Georgetown University, I moved to the Philippines, where I began pursuing Chinese brush painting. Upon my return to the US, I studied painting, drawing and sculpture full time at the Art Students League of New York and, subsequently, was awarded a full merit scholarship to attend the Graduate School of Figurative Art at the New York Academy – where I received an MFA in painting and sculpture in 1990. My education has also included studying with a wide range of practicing artists, both in the US and overseas. While living in Tokyo and Hong Kong from 1990 to 2005, I renovated an old house in a small village in the Loire Valley, boasting a significant international artist community where I would spend summers painting. I have participated in over 50 exhibitions in the US, Japan, Hong Kong, France, and the Philippines, including 10 solo shows, and have received numerous awards for my work.

I live full-time at Sea Ranch, CA. since relocating from Marin County in 2018, and have enjoyed becoming an active participant in the local art community. In 2022, I was fortunate to complete the construction of a separate art studio at our home where I spend my days working – if not painting outdoors. More information is available at my website – www.janecasnermothersill.com.