Design, Create, Inspire ...Give Back

Vibrancy and playfulness of color is what Jane seeks to convey in her work. As a self taught artist she has been inspired over the years by the impressionists, especially Matisse's sense of color and paper cutting works. Over the years, she has studied watercolors with San Diego artist Sharon Hinkley and experimented in various art mediums with Elaine Harvey. Lately she has been inspired by mosaic artists: Antoni Gaudi, James Hubbell, Sonia King, Laurel True, Laurie Mica and Betsy Schultz. She enjoys using a palate of colors that is luscious, vivid and joyful. When creating she is focused on brightening every day life and subject matter.

Jane derives inspiration from her living and traveling abroad which has developed a base of ideas, compositions, aromas, cultures and color combinations she uses when she creates. She also gains inspiration from other artists, her husband, two teenage children, bike riding by the sea, and 16 years of yoga. Jane is most creative when hunting for treasures to put in her next mosaic creations or working like and alchemist in her studio while listening to yoga music.

Inspiring others and bringing art alive in the community are important to Jane. "Beautify the World" is her motto.

“Buddha” by Kaitlin Wheeler Video Artist

Labyrinth…”Murilands is…” campus beautification project

As part of the ongoing beautification efforts at Muirlands Middle School, committee chair Michelle Lanuti asked artist Jane Wheeler for an idea to enhance the blacktop area near the 100 building.

Since one of Wheeler’s favorite designs is the labyrinth (an ancient spiral walking path that can be found in places all over the world), Wheeler told Lanuti it would look perfect on the newly refurbished blacktop.

With the help of landscaper/artist Corky Kessler, they drew the 35-foot labyrinth for the students to enjoy.

To enhance the artwork, Lanuti asked English teacher Craig Goldman to have his students answer the sentence, “Muirlands is …” The students came up with a variety of words and phrases that will be stenciled on the blacktop to encircle the design.

Some of the words include: awesome, unique, gnarly, epic awesomeness, the hope, a welcoming community, life, the best school in the world, home, doorway to the future, ocean-minded, one of a kind, inspiring, full of opportunities, a cool place, amazing, a big wave of learning new things, the best invention since sliced bread and Muirlands is a place that is interesting because all mass lines up with it causing a quantum leap!