While vacationing by car in 2005 and mesmerized by the passing landscapes of hills, valleys, farms and trees, Jan Thomas knew that she needed to find a way to leave her corporate marketing job and start working toward her true ambition to be a painter. Since that day Jan has immersed herself in the study and practice of painting. She began with the basics, taking landscape painting classes in oils. Eventually she moved from the classroom to outdoors, and discovered the freedom and challenge of working en plein air.