About the artist

Artist's Statement

I’ve enjoyed dabbling in the arts since I was a kid, and my career enabled me to be happily immersed in a realm where graphic design, communication, and technology intersected. Once I retired several years ago, I took a deeper dive into the arts.

Propelled by my wanderlust, I’ve been inspired by stunning landscapes and bold colors in my travels: Mediterranean villages in the south of France; cypress trees in Umbria; vibrantly painted houses in Stockholm; architecture in Florence; compelling street scenes in Sienna; and deeply saturated colors in Roussillon, France, known for its ochre mines. In December of 2023 I traveled to Havana, Cuba, where I enjoyed a new vibrant color palette. 

Colorful characters always intrigue me: nuns drinking from a stone fountain in Rome, a fruit-seller marketing his wares in Aix-en-Provence, a gondolier paddling the canals of Venice, a man in a vibrant purple velvet jacket toting a basket of produce through a French village, kids kayaking in the ocean, Cuban musicians playing jazz on the sidewalk.

I’ve also painted iconic scenes in my hometown, Cohasset, MA: brilliant sunsets over the harbor; Sandy Beach lifeguards in fire-engine-red bathing suits; hard-scrabble lobster boats. Such scenes, seemingly begging to come alive in a painting, offer me ongoing inspiration. I never cease to be amazed by the beauty, mystery, and inspiration—both near to and far from home.

I enjoy painting with watercolors, pastels, and oils—loving the “personalities” of each. In 2023 I completed a series of watercolors of  beach umbrella scenes; then immersed myself (not literally!) in pastels. In 2024 I returned to oils, which captured the brilliant colors of a trip to Havana. What's next? One never knows!    -Jane Widiger