C.J. Shane
C.J. Shane is a visual artist and writer who lives and works in Tucson, Arizona. She has experimented in several media, but her primary interest is in painting, artist’s books, and relief printmaking. Shane exhibits both nationally and internationally, and her work is found in both private and institutional collections.
Shane is the author of both fiction and non-fiction books. Voices of New China (2013) is a nonfiction book based on her experiences living and working in the People's Republic of China. Her latest nonfiction book, American Community Colleges: The International Student's Guide, was published early in 2017.
Her fiction books include 1) Letty Valdez Mystery Series (Desert Jade, 2017; Dragon's Revenge (2018); Daemon Waters (2019) and Direct Evidence (2022); 2) Cat Miranda Mystery series (Kissed (2020); Fair Play (2021); and The Broken Pot (2022); Iron Horse Mystery series; Take Four (2023), Shadow Man (2023), In the Slips (2024), and Clouds (coming soon).
Shane's writings and art have been deeply influenced by travel, and especially the cultures of Mexico and China. In her writings, she hopes to tell the story behind the story. She would like to give voice to those who have little opportunity to tell their stories.
Shane is the author of both fiction and non-fiction books. Voices of New China (2013) is a nonfiction book based on her experiences living and working in the People's Republic of China. Her latest nonfiction book, American Community Colleges: The International Student's Guide, was published early in 2017.
Her fiction books include 1) Letty Valdez Mystery Series (Desert Jade, 2017; Dragon's Revenge (2018); Daemon Waters (2019) and Direct Evidence (2022); 2) Cat Miranda Mystery series (Kissed (2020); Fair Play (2021); and The Broken Pot (2022); Iron Horse Mystery series; Take Four (2023), Shadow Man (2023), In the Slips (2024), and Clouds (coming soon).
Shane's writings and art have been deeply influenced by travel, and especially the cultures of Mexico and China. In her writings, she hopes to tell the story behind the story. She would like to give voice to those who have little opportunity to tell their stories.
Artist Statement
The natural world, especially the beautiful Sonoran Desert, continues to be the greatest source of grounding and inspiration in my artwork. Subtle color and texture are key elements in my paintings which are designed to give the viewer a deeper connection to nature. I have found that a minimalist approach to composition and imagery best conveys the serenity that seekers have so often found in the desert.
The natural world, especially the beautiful Sonoran Desert, continues to be the greatest source of grounding and inspiration in my artwork. Subtle color and texture are key elements in my paintings which are designed to give the viewer a deeper connection to nature. I have found that a minimalist approach to composition and imagery best conveys the serenity that seekers have so often found in the desert.
Favorite Quotations
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Run from what's comfortable.
Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious. ~~Rumi |
It seems to me that the good lord in his infinite wisdom gave us three things to make life bearable- hope, jokes, and dogs. But the greatest of these was dogs.
~~Robyn Davidson, Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback |
CJShane_Coconino County Rainbow_
Artist's Bio
Shane was born and grew up on the West Texas prairie. She spent much of her youth thinking about being somewhere else. As a consequence, she read a lot of books and developed pen pal friendships with people all over the world. She later came to appreciate the beauty of her homeland thanks to the art of Georgia O’Keeffe who lived and painted the prairie and canyons of West Texas.
When Shane was six years old, her teacher assigned her first grade class to write a poem. Shane’s poem about rain drops was self-illustrated. Much to her dismay, Shane was sent to the principal’s office because of the poem. Turns out she wasn’t in trouble as she thought. The teacher just wanted the principal to see her illustrated poem. This set Shane on a life of balancing images and words in her creative life.
Her degrees are a bachelor’s in journalism and history (University of Texas at Austin), a master’s in library and information science (University of Kentucky), and advanced work toward a doctorate in American history. She also earned her international TESOL certificate from the Center for English as a Second Language at the University of Arizona, Tucson. Because of her love of art, she has taken numerous private art classes, and workshops at Penland School in North Carolina and Haystack in Maine. She has worked as a news reporter in Mexico City, as a college reference librarian and professor of library science, and as a freelance editorial worker in the book publishing industry specializing in biological and environmental science books. This work on science books led to Shane becoming a dedicated environmentalist.
In 2000 Shane relocated permanently to Tucson after brief stays in Bisbee and Flagstaff. Between 2002 and 2012 Shane took teams of American teachers to China where she and her team taught conversational English and TESL methods to Chinese English teachers. Shane’s nonfiction book Voices of New China came out of her experiences in China. She has authored nonfiction and fiction books, and she frequently publishes magazine articles as a freelance writer.
Art Honors & Awards
Publications that include art work by C.J. Shane
Go to click on Writing to learn more about C.J. Shane's books and articles.
Shane was born and grew up on the West Texas prairie. She spent much of her youth thinking about being somewhere else. As a consequence, she read a lot of books and developed pen pal friendships with people all over the world. She later came to appreciate the beauty of her homeland thanks to the art of Georgia O’Keeffe who lived and painted the prairie and canyons of West Texas.
When Shane was six years old, her teacher assigned her first grade class to write a poem. Shane’s poem about rain drops was self-illustrated. Much to her dismay, Shane was sent to the principal’s office because of the poem. Turns out she wasn’t in trouble as she thought. The teacher just wanted the principal to see her illustrated poem. This set Shane on a life of balancing images and words in her creative life.
Her degrees are a bachelor’s in journalism and history (University of Texas at Austin), a master’s in library and information science (University of Kentucky), and advanced work toward a doctorate in American history. She also earned her international TESOL certificate from the Center for English as a Second Language at the University of Arizona, Tucson. Because of her love of art, she has taken numerous private art classes, and workshops at Penland School in North Carolina and Haystack in Maine. She has worked as a news reporter in Mexico City, as a college reference librarian and professor of library science, and as a freelance editorial worker in the book publishing industry specializing in biological and environmental science books. This work on science books led to Shane becoming a dedicated environmentalist.
In 2000 Shane relocated permanently to Tucson after brief stays in Bisbee and Flagstaff. Between 2002 and 2012 Shane took teams of American teachers to China where she and her team taught conversational English and TESL methods to Chinese English teachers. Shane’s nonfiction book Voices of New China came out of her experiences in China. She has authored nonfiction and fiction books, and she frequently publishes magazine articles as a freelance writer.
Art Honors & Awards
- Arizona Aqueous XXVII , Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, Arizona, 2013. Juror’s Choice Award
- Landscape, Light, Space, and Time Gallery, Florida, 2011. Special Recognition Award
- Printmaking Exhibit 2010, Infinity Art Gallery, 2010. Founder’s Choice Award
- Artists’ Book Cornucopia, Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO, 2010. Purchase Award
- Visual Interpretations, University of Arizona Poetry Center, Tucson, AZ, 2010. Purchase Award
Publications that include art work by C.J. Shane
- Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here. Beau Beausoleil and Sara Bodman, Center for Book Arts, New York, NY, 2013.
- 500 Handmade Books, Vol. 2, Lark Crafts, September, 2013. One of my artist’s books is included.
- 1000 Artists’ Books, Quarry Books, Quayside Publishing Group, Minneapolis, MN, 2012. Two of my artist’s books are included.
- High Fiber, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, Arizona, 2009. Exhibition Catalog.
- Enlivened by the Mystery, Friends Bulletin Corporation, USA, 2009. My painting After the Storm is included in this book.
- ME 3. Manuscript Exhibitions 3. Botsotso Publishing, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2001. Exhibition catalog.
Go to click on Writing to learn more about C.J. Shane's books and articles.