NOTE: All artwork on this website is copyrighted by the artist, Jane McCauley, and may not be reproduced in any way without written permission of the artist.

Above: "THE BEARS WENT OVER THE MOUNTAIN...." jpg. ; oil on slate, approximately 12"x24"

 I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles W.  and Jane Yearley McCauley, way, way back in 1951. Eons ago, it seems! We lived in a rural area in Anne Arundel County, next to my grandparents, (Mom's parents), Clifton K. & Fannie Van Sant Yearley. My grandparents ran a chicken & egg farm. We also had horses to ride, (after much, much, much begging from me!) I have two brothers, Charles  W. "Chuck", Jr., & Col. Mark A. McCauley, as well as a sister, Jill McCauley Phair. All have families with great kids of their own.

 As long as I can remember I've been drawing and painting. When I was around 12 years old someone gave me a, "paint-by-number" kit. For those of you not familiar with this painting set, it's a picture on coated cardboard or canvas- board with little numbers printed all over it. There are also brushes, and little pots of oil paint with numbers corresponding to the numbers on the drawing. You must paint in the areas, after which a "beautiful" scene will emerge! I was thrilled, as my scene had horses, my favorite animals! Over time more kits were given to me, and I always had paint left over in the little pots. I couldn't bear to waste them! So, I'd mix them with any new ones I got. I found out by mixing, I could create new shades of color! Then, I tried drawing my own pictures and using the leftover paints to color them. I thought I'd really hit on something then! When I found out that you could buy canvas and oil paint in tubes, I was amazed! This was really great! Ever since then, oils have been my medium of choice. I can, and do, use other mediums when I think it's called for. But, oils seem to have a richness and luminosity other paint does not have, almost a "life of their own".

My Dad was transfered to a new job and home, in the early '60's, to southern New Jersey, in the rural "truck farming" area. In 1968 my Dad was again transfered, this time to the town of Timberville, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. My siblings and myself, graduated from high school in Broadway, actually "just over the hill" from Timberville. I graduated in 1969, as I'm the oldest of the "kids". Other than being pretty much self-taught, I also had a correspondence course for several years with, "The Famous Artists School of Westport, Conn." Back then some of the "actually famous" artists on the board were, among others,  Al  Capp,  (of the  " Lil' Abner cartoon fame);  and  Norman Rockwell, (famous cover illustrator of , "The  Saturday Evening Post" magazine.) If you don't remember these men, you are really young!  Al Capp once wrote on one of my school  assignments that I should be a cartoonist! So, of course, that's not what I did! The correspondence course was helpful in teaching me some of the basics on shading, perspective, tips on drawing and mixing colors, etc.  At every chance I did, however, draw on "everything" that didn't move! Including my school paper margins. I remember my high-school geometry teacher telling me in front of the class, "You'll never amount to anything.....drawing all the time like that!"Boy, that could really hurt a kid's ambitions....if they listened! Thankfully, I didn't. My parents also, despaired that I would never "fit in" to a regular job. They were right!

Below: "COUNTRY CROSSROADS"; oil on canvas, 24" x 28"

 I believe that God gave me a gift for art. He puts "pictures in my head" that inspire my art! Actually, I thought everyone saw pictures in their heads, until Sonny finally convinced me that is not the case! Who knew? God also gave me the urge to create that I can't stop, and don't want to! Actually, there is a lot of artistic talent on my Mom's side of the family. But, it's all different. For example: Mom drew fashions for stores; her Dad was a great woodworker and natural music an, who played anything with strings or keys; Mom's brother carved wood; his oldest son is a great portrait artist, when he wants to be; my sister and her kids are all fantastic musicians, and "play by ear"! On the other hand, on my Dad's side, they are great at math and science. Well, I know I didn't inherit those particular talents!

I was married, the first time, to Craig W. Newman (now deceased),  in 1970. We had one son, Craig McCauley Newman, (now in Chicago with his lovely wife, Jenni, and fantastic sons, Jackson & Bennett! (Shameless "grandparent plug"!) We lived on a horse farm just outside of Timberville. When our son was about 2 we moved about 20 miles away to Harrisonburg, further south. I had been a professional belly dancer, "Jamilla", for about 12 years during this time! It was exciting and fun, ( I quit while I figured I was still ahead! ) Plus, I was painting on the side, and working retail jobs, (which I hated!) All I really  wanted to do was to paint full-time. I was frustrated. Things gradually changed between Craig W. and me. I "grew" one way, and he went the other way. That happens some times. Later, Craig and I had a friendly divorce after our son was ready for college. I was ready to change my life, now that my son was grown. I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, and wanted to work for Him now.

I met a wonderful Christian man, Gradon O. "Sonny" Pendergraft. He and I had so much in common! He was in the process of getting divorced. He and his now ex-wife, Phylis, (who we are friends with), had one daughter, Jimese Pendergraft Sherrill. She and her husband, Comm. Jerry Sherrill have one son by his previous marriage, Jake, (great kid, who lives in Colorado). Sonny and I decided to get married in 1992, and we came to live at, "Gra-Mar", a summer cabin built by his parents, Gradon & Maria Pendergraft, in 1950. (See: "Gra-Mar",  Our Home", for more info.) Sonny and I have been fixing Gra-Mar up since before we moved in. When we got married, Sonny, (bless his heart), told me, "Look, if you want to be an artist, be one! I make enough money for us both to live on, if we are frugal. You can quit your retail job and just paint! " What a man! I love him to pieces!  He is the love of my life and soul! I thank God for him everyday. So, that's what I did! When I started to paint full-time I registered my "maiden-name" of, "Jane McCauley", to be my professional, "artist's -name".

Below: "JUST PASSIN' THRU" jpg. ; print from oil, image size 10"x12 3/4"

 We've been through a lot, health-wise, especially with Sonny.  He's had several heart attacks and cancer three times. He had gotten frostbitten feet in Korea. (Actually, he's pretty much held together with duct -tape and prayer!) But, the Lord takes good care of us, and we go on working for Him as much as we can.  Several years ago Sonny felt the Lord was "calling" him to be a minister. So, he became ordained as a non-denominational minister, "Rev. Sonny". We both use my art, and the Scriptures painted on them, as a way to "witness" for the Lord Jesus Christ.

I've won many awards over the years, including, "The Grumbacher Award For Excellence In Oils", with "gold" medallion; "People's Choice" awards;and "Best In Show"awards. My work hangs in many private homes, as well as corporations in the USA and Europe. I've also illustrated four children's books, (see: "Children's Books"), two of which were published in the USA, and two in England. (The books published in England are now, sadly, out of print. Sorry.) I also do commission work. These are mainly people's pets, some homesteads, or farms. (No portraits of people, though! I don't like "doing" people...so I don't!) I always put something "living" in everything I paint, as I believe it gives the scene life. My style is highly-detailed, realistic. I'vie exhibited my art at hundreds of art shows and festivals all over the East Coast over the years, with Sonny's invaluable help! But, we are getting older it seems, and the art shows are getting physically harder to keep doing. So, I'm trying out a new venue for my art....the INTERNET! Hopefully, God will bless my newest avenue of showing my art, and my "meeting" the public!

 I look forward to meeting new friends, "on line", and introducing you myself, to my art, Sonny, our critters, and home. (Sonny is still a bit of a computer, "dinosaur", a "T-Rex", actually. So, I do most of the computer stuff around here.)  Life is exciting! I'm really looking forward to working with you!

 I hope this gives you a bit of insight into what makes me "tick". Please enjoy looking through my website. May God bless.

- Jane, and Rev. Sonny, too!