Jane Mann’s journey into art began at age 10 when the local photography studio’s owner praised a portrait she had taken of her father. She attended classes at the local art institute at the suggestion of her grandmother, a painter. In college she majored in French, drawn to the subject by the art, architecture and culture of the country. Even while raising her two children, family trips to museums and galleries were considered exciting outings. In fact, her son holds a BFA and has been gallery director for two venues in California.
Upon joining the Washington Printmakers Gallery, she was exposed to the beauty, variety, and techniques of hand-pulled printmaking while attending numerous demonstrations and curating their monthly shows. She met and learned etching from Ellen Verdon Winkler. She discovered that printmaking allowed her to express her vision tactilely as well as visually by using a variety of papers, including handmade, and chine collé. Nature, landscapes and architecture are the main themes appearing in her prints which can include several levels of design to better express the history or ambience of the subject.
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