FAIRHOPE, Alabama — Jolane Edwards will display several of her paintings at the First Friday ArtWalk on Feb. 3, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the USABC Administration Building, 10 N. Summit St., Fairhope. The show will feature mainly landscapes and still lifes. Edwards will show some of her more recent abstract works as well.

Edwards began painting in 1985 in a class for the Congressional Wives Club in Washington D.C. She liked the class so much that it led her to take workshops in other places where she lived and traveled, including Atlanta and Thailand.

Edwards has been painting on and off since the 1980s, and at one point studied sculpture. Her inspiration comes from artists like Randy Moberg and Eugenia Foster.

“I love Foster’s work and try to emulate her technique,” Edwards said.

After leaving Washington, the Edwards moved to Point Clear. Edwards and three of her friends decided to write a book called “Coasting” about their travels along the coast from Mississippi to Florida. The book first published in 1992, and includes recommendations of things to see, restaurants and lodging for visitors to the Eastern Shore.

Edwards says after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, many of these places no longer exist. The book has become more of a historic work for the Eastern Shore area.

Edwards and her friends wrote two additional books, “Coasting through Mardi Gras” and “Coasting through the Mountains.”

In 2002 the Edwards moved from Point Clear to downtown Fairhope. Edwards’ love for the arts led her to establish the Committee On Public Art (COPA). COPA, a committee of the Eastern Shore Art Association, was established in 2001 to place works of art of the highest quality throughout Fairhope, developing an outdoor Art Trail.

In addition to her work in Fairhope, Edwards also has been on the Board of BASCOM, the newly established Art Gallery in Highlands, N.C., where the Edwards reside half of the year.

Being an artist and author, Edwards loves attending the First Friday ArtWalk.

“It is just plain fun, and I love it!” Edwards said. She says that she and her husband make a big night of ArtWalk and walk from venue to venue and then enjoy a dinner out.

“Fairhope is so fortunate to have the First Friday Art Walk,” Edwards added.