Jacalyn Beam paints the beautiful Brandywine Valley where she was born and now permanently resides. Like the Pennsylvania Impressionists of the 19th and 20th centuries who had strong links to the local landscape, Jacalyn typically paints scenes within a few miles of home. Her plein air paintings document the local color and culture of our area.

"There is much in the Brandywine Valley to capture one's attention - historic homes and barns, lush landscapes, assorted animals, and curving creeks. The area is especially beautiful in the winter because the intimacies of the land are in full view. At night, you can see the warm glow of candles or period lighting in the historic homes that dot the landscape. It's reminiscent of a Sotter scene from the 1800s."

Jacalyn holds a B.S., M.Ed. and Ed.D. and has always had a passion for painting. The Wyeths, Sorolla, Sargent, Sotter, Redfield, and Benson are a few of her favorite artists. "I paint outdoors because the world is rich with visual and aural beauty and it's the optimal way to see three dimensional objects, the subtleties of light and shadows, atmospheric perspective, and 'real' colors. Plein air painting is also a lot fun! You meet new friends - animal and human, have fleeting conversations with bicyclists and joggers, and experience the sounds and smells of the outdoors".

Jacalyn is an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painting Association where she serves on the Board of Directors. She is a member of Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society, and chairs the ChaddsFord Historical Society Winter PLein Air Event. Jacalyn was selected for inclusion in the book, 100 Mid Atlantic Painters published in 2014 released by Shiffer. She is represented by the Chaddsford Gallery in Chaddsford PA, Strode's Mill Gallery in West Chester, PA, Station Gallery in Greenville DE, and Richard Timmons Gallery in PA. You can also view her work at: www.jacalynbeam.com