Jean grew up in Naples, Italy, New Orleans and the Carolinas.  She
completed her education with an MFA  (Painting and Drawing) at James Madison University in Virginia.

Much of her career was spent as head of an Art Department at Caldewell Community College and Technical Institute and as Professor of Art History (UNC-C). She is known for her presentations on Art History.

Her art career has led her to Moscow, Russia as a set designer and she regularly returns to Italy, France and Ireland (often leading painting workshops).

She was awarded a residency at Chateaux Orquevaux, Listowel, Ireland’s Olive Stack Artist in Residencey (Ireland), La Maison de Beaumont (France)

Jean returns to Ireland every year to paint the dramatic landscapes there and reconnect with buddies (read: visit John B. Keane Pub) in Listowel, Ireland.

When not working plein-air, she creates large scale paintings in her
studio, Dilworth Artisan Station in Charlotte, NC.  

Recently her work was featured in many venues including

  • Carillon Building, Charlotte, NC, May 2024 “Provence Paintings”

  • Highpoint Theater Art Gallery One Person Exhibition “Stolen Stories”

  • Queens University “Empowered: Right or Privelege”

  • Beaumont de Pertuis, France, Solo exhibition “View from My Easel”

  • One person exhibit, TAG Art Gallery, Highpoint”Stolen Stories”

  • Grand Bohemian, Charleston “Caught Stealing”

  • Barings Winter Spring Exhibit 2023

  • Shain Gallery Invitational 2022

  • East Carolina Gray Gallery Alumni Exhibition 2021

  • Tryon, NC UpstairsArtsSpace Invitational 2021

  • Carillon Exhibition Solo Show 2020

  • Unfettered and Alive, Paris, France

  • Outdoor Painter Magazine

 Recent awards:

  • Third Place Paint Out Doneraile, Ireland Paint Out 2024

  • Quick Paint Award, Wexford, Ireland Paint Out 2024

  • “Best -in-Show,” Belmont, NC Paint Out 2023

  • “Second Place,” Blowing Rock Art and History Museum PaintOut” 2023

  • Best-In-Show, Mint Hill Art Gallery

  • Best-In-Show, Ciel Gallery Exhibit, "Build"

  • First Place in the National Still Life Competition at the Bascom Museum in Highlands, NC,

  • Best Quick Paint at the Piedmont Plein Air Paint Out

  • Second Place, Savannah GA Paint Out.

Jean is represented at Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charleston, SC.  You can also see her work and studio at Dilworth Artisan Station. Studio Gallery Crawls are open every First Friday of the month.

You can see chronicles of misadventures on her blog.

Jean has authored a series of Art History for Painters.

Over Mona's Shoulder 

Looking At Pictures: Vermeer

Breaking Bad

Through A Handsome Salesman's Eyes

Who are you  looking at?

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