Harding, Jane
Statement: Originally from Northeast Iowa, Jane Harding attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she received an art education degree and a master’s degree in school counseling. Jane has been an art Guild member since 2017. In 2022, Jane was elected president of the Art Center. Along with these duties, she has a passion for drawing pencil and charcoal portraits with attempts to create using pastels. She lives in Fairfield Glade with her husband, Steve, and their new rescue puppy, Ellie.
Biography: In the fall of 2016, Jane Harding and her husband Steve moved to Fairfield Glade. Originally from northeast Iowa, Jane attended Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and received a degree in Art Education. She taught K-12 art and directed plays in a small Iowa district for seven years. The close relationships with her students led her to get a master’s degree in school counseling. This degree opened her door to becoming a school counselor, which she did for the following 26 years.
After she and Steve retired, they found themselves empty nesters and decided to move to a warmer climate. Being Wyndham owners, Fairfield Glade had been one of their vacation destinations. They engaged in hiking, golfing, and spending time at the beaches here in the glade. In 2016 they decided to make Fairfield Glade their home, leaving behind the long and brutal winters of Iowa.
Jane, who was encouraged by an Art Guild member, attended an Art Guild member’s meeting. She was in awe of the wide variety of talent displayed and felt embraced by the Guild community. She and Steve attended the Fun and Wine reception events and soon became members. Jane volunteered in the publicity committee and the children’s outreach program and soon found herself as secretary of the Art Guild board of directors.
Jane’s passion reignited after attending smorgasbord classes in a variety of media. After exposing herself to several media, she advanced to classes in drawing with pastel, watercolor, and acrylic painting. Her artistic confidence led her to enter a piece in the gallery. This experience has opened her passion for drawing portraits. Her grandchildren, fourteen at present, are her primary models. She is branching into working with pastels. She was encouraged to hang her artwork at the Palace Theater and enjoyed telling her friends, “My grandchildren are hanging out at the Palace.”
Jane’s artistic passion does not stop with creating using charcoal, pencil, and pastels. Jane sings with the Plateau Women’s Chorus and church choir, ringing handbells and playing the French Horn in the Cumberland County Community Band.
Jane also volunteers at the Cumberland County Playhouse and serves as a Stephen leader in her church. She and Steve still enjoy traveling and often find themselves heading back to Iowa to visit their growing family. When not traveling, they both enjoy the vast amenities the Glade offers, and engage in hiking, golfing, kayaking and fishing from their canoe. The warmth of the people they’ve met in Crossville, Tennessee, has made them feel “they are truly home. ”
