About

Jean A. Hearst

Born and raised in New Orleans, Jean A. Hearst began painting as soon as she could hold a paintbrush. Some of her earliest works are scenes of her native city. After moving to Virginia Beach, VA in the 1970s, she spent several years as a docent at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk before entering a full-time career in occupational therapy. Now retired from healthcare, Jean is back to art. Her works embody interpretive plein air paintings in mostly pastel, oil and water color; florals; drawings and paintings of interesting faces and figures; as well as pets and abstracts. Jean much prefers to paint on location, from life, or from her imagination, and uses reference photos only occasionally. A resident artist at The Artists Gallery of The Virginia Beach Art Center, Jean exhibits frequently, and her work may be found in private collections throughout the United States and Canada.