Mary Jane ​Ward, originally from Eugene, Oregon, had a nine year career as a professional ballet dancer and
has worked in a range of roles within the arts - performance, and production. Primarily self taught as a visual artist,
she studied  at the Grand Central Atelier in New York City, under Jacob Collins, from 2012-2015. In 2017,  Ward was one of three artists-in-residence at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, part of the Art of Appalachia near Bainbridge, Ohio. The recipient of several Artists in the Community grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, she now
lives and works in Columbus where she teaches portrait, figure and landscape painting classes at the prestigious Columbus Cultural Arts Center. Mary Jane said recently that she prefers to draw and paint from life
and finds inspiration in the presence of her subjects. She added that whether sitting in a studio with a model,
or fully immersing herself in a landscape, the hours spent are meditative and transformative.

 Mary Jane's work  will be on display at the Art Spot through Saturday, August 4th.