Jane Davies art classes
Jane Davies art classes
Jane Davies art classes
Jane Davies art classes
Jane Davies art classes

Jane Davies

Jane is a full time artist working in painting and collage. She offers workshops nationwide and internationally, focusing on developing a deeper understanding of visual language.

After graduating Bennington College and attending the School for American Crafts, Davies began as a potter in the early nineties. She transitioned into freelance art, creating artwork for manufacturers of giftware, stationery, and home furnishings. Since 2010 she has been teaching, writing, and making art.

She participated in a residency at Vermont Studio Center in 2015. In addition to The Elements of Visual Language, Davies is the author of three books on collage and mixed media, one on ceramics, has one DVD on painting and collage techniques. Her work is available at Edgewater Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont.

• For more information about Jane and her work, visit her website

Jane’s 2-week class

  • • October 19-24 & October 26-31, 2025 | The Elements of Visual Language: A Fresh Look at Abstract Composition

    Open or Close
    The Elements of Visual Language: A Fresh Look at Abstract Composition
    • Only 16 students accepted.
    • Level: Intermediate to advanced
    • Sewing machine:     No
    • Materials fee: $25 payable in cash to Jane
    • Facility usage fee: $60

     • 4 spaces left

    • $3360 | paid in full before April 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($2700) & Meal plan ($660)
    • $3410 | paid in full before June 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($2750) & Meal plan ($660)
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    DESCRIPTION
    This is not a workshop on How-To-Make-Good-Composition, or ‘correct’ composition. It is an examination of visual elements - color, value, line, shape, etc., and exploration of their infinite possibilities. We will begin with exercises to deepen your awareness of common defaults, the compositional conventions we tend to fall back on without realizing it. With this new awareness we can make conscious choices and experiment more broadly, turning composition into an expansive area of inquiry, rather than a set of rules to follow. Let your approach evolve with your art practice to reflect your unique way of seeing and expressing.

    This workshop includes slide shows, handouts, and plenty of one-on-one mentoring.
    We will be using acrylic paint, drawing materials, and collage primarily. If you want to include stitch and fiber in your work, that is certainly permitted.

    Video about the workshop:     https://youtu.be/avYcSOawu08


    SUPPLY LIST
    • Paper for substrate, smooth surface: hot press watercolor paper or smooth printmaking paper works best (I use Stonehenge printmaking paper or Blick Bristol) cut to 12”x12”, 8”x10”, 9”x12”, 10”x10”, or similar, comfortable size. Bring enough for about 30 small compositions. Blick Bristol comes in 9”x12” pads, which is convenient.
    • Acrylic paints: bring artist grade acrylics, such as Golden, supplemented with student grade (Liquitex Basics, e.g.) if you like. BRING ALL YOUR COLORS, not just those you like or don’t like or want to use up. Include at least two of each primary and two of each secondary color. Fluid Acrylics and Heavy Body acrylics are appropriate. But if they’ve been sitting in your basement for years, buy new ones. Do not bring craft paints.
    • 8 oz bottle of Blick Matte Acrylic White: https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-matte- acrylic-white-8-oz-bottle/
    • Brushes – your choice, bring a variety of sizes and shapes
    • Soft rubber brayer, 2”-3” Speedball makes a good one: https://www.dickblick.com/items/speedball-soft-rubber-brayer-2-12/
    • Acrylic matte medium (Utrecht brand) or Golden soft gel matte – 16 oz.
    • Acrylic glazing medium/liquid (for diluting your paints and keeping them wet longer)
    • Collage papers (your own painted papers as well as others; think pattern and color, not image. Opaque papers (Jane will bring tissue paper to share).
    • Scissors
    • Disposable palette (pad of paper style)
    • Drawing materials, such as pens, markers, pencils, crayons (Caran d’Aches NeoColor II are good: https://www.dickblick.com/products/caran-dache-neocolor-ii-artists-crayons/, as are Posca Pens: https://www.dickblick.com/products/uni-posca-paint-markers/ and other opaque paint markers), etc.
    • Large roll of soft paper towels
    • Spray bottle for water
    • Squeegee (or credit card, in a pinch)
    • Container for water (think quart yoghurt container)
    • Any other bells and whistles you care to bring


    Jane will supply:
    • Reams of 9”x12” cheap drawing paper for making collage papers and for other
    • applications
    • Some acrylic mediums to share
    • Some collage papers to share
    • Tissue paper for making collage paper
    • Pearls of wisdom and pearls of stupidity

    Your materials fee of $25 is to be delivered in cash, taped to a bar of fine dark chocolate, at the beginning of the workshop.

    Please contact     Jane if you have any queries about the class content or supplies.
  • • 2025 Fall Art Retreats | Tuition and Meal Plan
    Tuition & Meal plan for 2-week class with Jane Davies: (Note: Only 16 students accepted)
    Both weeks (10-day class) of this workshop are to be taken back-to-back. No registrations accepted for only one week.
    • $3360 | paid in full before April 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($2700) & Meal plan ($660)
    • $3410 | paid in full before June 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($2750) & Meal plan ($660)
    + $60 facility usage fee
    + $25 materials fee payable in cash to Jane

    Tuition & Meal plan for 2-week class with Claire Benn: (Note: Only 14 students accepted)
    Both weeks (10-day class) of this workshop are to be taken back-to-back. No registrations accepted for only one week.
    • $3760 | paid in full before April 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($3100) & Meal plan ($660)
    • $3810 | paid in full before June 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($3150) & Meal plan ($660)
    + $60 facility usage fee
    + $30 materials fee payable in cash to Claire

    Tuition & Meal plan for 2-week classes with Nancy Crow:
    Both weeks (10-day class) of these workshops are to be taken back-to-back. No registrations accepted for only one week.
    • $2810 | paid in full before April 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($2150) & Meal plan ($660)
    • $2860 | paid in full before June 1, 2025 | 10-day Tuition ($2200) & Meal plan ($660)



    Meal plan
    During the art retreats, Margaret Wolf, will prepare fabulous gourmet lunches and dinners plus a coffee/snack break daily during each week of class. The meal plan is provided so participants may concentrate fully on their work without being bothered by the interruption and inconvenience of cooking for themselves. The break times present a great opportunity to get to know your fellow students, share ideas, and just relax together in this wonderful environment.

    The meal plan includes an opening night welcome dinner, five lunches, five afternoon coffee/pastry breaks, and four more dinners during the duration of the workshop. Coffee, tea and water will be served during these break times. Participants are responsible for any other beverage choices, such as soda pop, beer, wine, milk or bottled water.

    Please keep in mind that if anyone chooses not to participate in the meal plan, they are solely responsible for all of their meals, snacks, coffee, tea, and other beverages. The kitchen facilities are reserved for the resident chef. There is a microwave and a refrigerator in the wet studio for student use. Most restaurants are at least a 20 minute drive away from the barn.

    Please note: Due to facility limitations, meal plans are available only for workshop participants.
  • • Accommodations
    Accommodations:

    New hotel Hampton Inn, Canal Winchester, Ohio (20-25 minute drive to Crow Timber Frame Barn)
    This new, highly rated, clean, comfortable hotel is offering reduced rates. Phone: 614-953-2204
    • For special rate, please book online

    The Morgan Theater Home, Baltimore, Ohio (5 minute drive to the Crow Timber Frame Barn, mention Crow Barn)
    Former silent movie theater converted into a private residence. Three rooms for rent include free cable TV & free high speed internet access. Kitchen/refrigerator/stove & all "kitchen stuff" available. Phone: 740-862-4765 or Email

    Other accommodations, please negotiate your own weekly rates:

    AirBnB options in the area near the Crow Timber Frame Barn

    City of Lancaster, Ohio (20-25 minute drive to the Crow Timber Frame Barn)
    • Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 740-654-4445
    • Hampton Inn, 740-654-2999
    City of Reynoldsburg, Ohio (20-25 minute drive to the Crow Timber Frame Barn)
    • Fairfield Inn, 614-864-4555

    Campgrounds near the Crow Timber Frame Barn
    Rippling Stream Campground, Baltimore, OH, 740-862-6065, (5 minute drive to the Crow Timber Frame Barn)
    KOA Campground, Buckeye Lake, OH, 740-928-0706, (15-20 minute drive to the Crow Timber Frame Barn)
  • • Miscellaneous information
    Roommate
    • Please let us know if you would like a roommate. We will try to match you with another participant to share accommodations.

    Travel to and from the Crow Timber Frame Barn
    • The Barn is located near Baltimore, Ohio (southeast of Columbus, Ohio)
    • Please keep in mind that there is not a shuttle service to and from the motels to the farm, therefore please arrange a rental car or carpool with another participant.
    • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Columbus, Ohio, is the major airport serving the area (30 minute drive to the Barn)

    Rental sewing machines, cutting mats & lamps
    • Bernina sewing machines are available for $150 per 10-day class.
    • Cutting mats are available for $30 per 10-day class.
    • Lamps are available for $30 per 10-day class.

    Formal class hours
    • Monday-Friday: 9-12 and 2-5 daily
    (Classrooms are open 7 am-9 pm Monday-Thursday, 7 am-5 pm Friday)

    Professional facilities
    Each student is provided with a large work table, an 8’ x 8’ work wall, and a comfortable chair. Classrooms are well illuminated and are open from early morning until late in the evening, plus the classrooms have air conditioning & heating. The surface design/dye studio at the Crow Timber Frame Barn includes large padded tables, lots of light (natural and color-corrected bulbs), 3 commercial stainless steel sinks, & washer/dryer. All facilities are non-smoking.

    Mailing list
    If you would like to be placed on a mailing list for information about upcoming art retreats, please send your contact info.

    Questions? Email
Images of Jane Davies and her work

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