Jones is a Denver native and continues to live near there at 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. Studying biology in college taught her the amazing power of living systems, and gardening has shown her what a struggle that can be, and both of those infuse her with awe at the beauty that comes from the earth. Her artistic aesthetic has been shaped by studies in Art History, where she has been influenced by Michelangelo's clarity of composition and communication, and the great illusions of light painted by Johannes Vermeer, although she believes that every artist should be of their own time. Her work has won numerous national awards and can be seen at galleries around the country and at Saks Galleries in Denver. She is the author of Classic Still Life Painting, published by Watson-Guptill. Teaching Philosophy: My job is to help students find their way toward making the paintings they want to be making—to find out where they want to go and help create a plan for that journey. I do short demonstrations and/or presentations each day, but I think that students learn best when they are doing the work. I spend my time working around the room helping each person and working one on one as much as possible. I am a very supportive and encouraging teacher and let the students know that 50% of learning anything is learning how to fix mistakes, and I am there to be their safety net. I encourage them to do things they wouldn't do on their own and to use my experience to their advantage. Her paintings can be seen on her website at www.janejonesartist.com.