Wow! Is the response that’s heard when looking at Jane McClain’s graphite portraits. While she masters the style of photorealism with her pencils, she also captures the spirit of each of her subjects, making them feel alive.
Jane began taking drawing lessons in 1989 with renowned graphite artist, Louise Cherwak and later with local BCC’s Nancy Dillen. These classes helped Jane produce a ‘Students Choice’ Award winning piece that convinced her that drawing with graphite and colored pencils was her speciality.
However, she has spent the last many years home schooling her two daughters and running a horse riding business.
After moving from the farm in Cocoa to Rockledge in 2005, Jane met up with a group of women artists meeting regularly for dinner while sharing and discussing art. The encouragement from this group inspired Jane to attend some Art Salon meetings last summer, dust off her pencils and she drew her first portrait “Ear rink”.
“Ear rink” is an endearing close up of her 2 year old granddaughter with one red earring. This portrait was on exhibit at the juried “All That Art” show at the King Center in Melbourne last November. It is also on display, until March 6th, at the juried “Face to Face - an exhibition of eclectic portraits” at local Pizza Gallery and Grill, located in The Avenues.
Jane was also accepted into the Art Gallery of Viera, Brevard County’s newest and largest membership gallery, located in The Avenues. She is available to draw a portrait for you, from your favorite photograph. She also teaches drawing at the Art Education Center at the Art Gallery of Viera.
