Greene County painter ventures into calendar art world
Katherine Mansfield
Artist Jean Corwin poses for a photograph with her granddaughter, Savanna Christy. Corwin鈥檚 2022 calendars will be sold in Christy鈥檚 The Dutch House antique shop.
Katherine Mansfield
This calendar was created by 73-year-old Greene County artist Jean Corwin.
Katherine Mansfield
Jean Corwin teaches painting classes monthly at Warrior Schoolhouse in Fordyce.
Katherine Mansfield
Artist Jean Corwin created this painting of a farm property along Route 21 in Uniontown.
Artist Jean Corwin was seemingly born with a paintbrush in her hand.
鈥淪he never puts her brush down,鈥� said Corwin鈥檚 husband, Chuck.
Indeed, it鈥檚 hard to imagine Corwin does anything but create. The 73-year-old artist paints commissions, paints for pleasure and teaches painting classes monthly at Warrior Schoolhouse in Fordyce.
She hand-crafts paper mache dolls and has been published in Prims, a magazine dedicated to, as the publication puts it, 鈥渁rt inspired by a bygone era.鈥�
Corwin鈥檚 original works and prints are available at The Dutch House, a marvelous antique store in Waynesburg owned by Corwin鈥檚 granddaughter, Savanna Christy, and through the store鈥檚 Etsy shop.
And now, Corwin is venturing into the world of calendar art.
鈥淢y husband, he鈥檚 one of my biggest fans,鈥� said Corwin. 鈥淗e has a group of friends, every time I do a painting, he鈥檚 always sending photos of them. Chuck said, 鈥榊ou ought to do a calendar. These are beautiful.'鈥�
Corwin began painting as a child. She said her mother and grandmother were both artists, and she remembers spending countless happy days making art with them, which is a tradition she has passed down to her 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 ever remember not having a pencil or crayon or paper in front of me,鈥� Corwin said. 鈥淭hat was my gift for almost every holiday 鈥� art supplies.鈥�
Corwin attended Hopewell High School, where, she said, her art teacher provided her a more extensive art education than she could ever have received at university. Since that five-student high school art class, Corwin has studied under Patrick Daugherty, a professional artist and teacher from Uniontown, and attended watercolor courses at the University of West Virginia.
鈥淢y art training is every day,鈥� said Corwin. 鈥淚 always take every opportunity to enhance my skills. I鈥檝e always watched programs that featured artists. I do online classes.鈥�
She learns, and she teaches, too.
Corwin is always happy to share her experience and insight with those willing to learn.
Each month, she hosts a four-hour painting workshop in the schoolhouse behind The Dutch House 鈥� paint supplies are provided, and students have the opportunity to improve their artistry in an 1800s schoolhouse.
鈥淭he one gent in the class, he had not painted since he was in high school. His wife got him to class. He was so excited,鈥� said Corwin. 鈥淗e did a wonderful painting. I was so excited that he did it.鈥�
Corwin鈥檚 sincerity comes through when meeting her in person and when admiring her work, which is scattered around the world. Both her dolls and paintings decorate living spaces near and as far away as California, Texas, Iceland and England.
One morning, Christy arrived to open The Dutch House and was surprised to learn a woman from South Carolina had been waiting outside the shop for nearly half an hour.
She had, by chance, seen a painting by Corwin, and she absolutely had to have the artwork for her home.
Christy invited the woman in. The South Carolinian picked up the piece, pointed to a window on the painted house, and said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my childhood bedroom,鈥� Christy recalled.
Corwin enjoys her commissioned work 鈥� she recently spent more than 100 hours completing a stunning 30-by-36 painting of the client鈥檚 home 鈥� but her real love is showcasing the place she calls home.
鈥淚 love to do paintings of Greene County, the old homes and the landscape,鈥� said Corwin. 鈥淭his is just a beautiful county. I don鈥檛 always think (people) appreciate the beauty that Greene County is.鈥�
The waters, barns and fields that decorate Greene County鈥檚 landscapes are on display in Corwin鈥檚 2022 calendar, which goes sale Dec. 30 and may be purchased through The Dutch House Etsy store or on-site.
The beautiful timekeeping keepsake is printed on linen and filled with Corwin鈥檚 finest Greene County-scapes in rich colors. Her use of shadow and her sure touch evoke childlike wonder, and Christie said she hopes those who purchase the first Corwin calendar will 鈥� carefully 鈥� cut out the prints to frame and enjoy in their homes.
Though excited about her foray into calendar art, Corwin is already on to the next thing.
鈥淓ven as I鈥檓 laying the brush down, the next painting is in my mind,鈥� said the prolific local artist. 鈥淲hen you create beauty, you wake up and you鈥檙e so excited because you鈥檙e doing a painting. You鈥檙e creating something beautiful. It鈥檚 hard to see the ugly in the world when you鈥檙e creating.鈥�