Artists Statement
Art is my journey starting from the Great Creator working through me to create work that will bring joy, healing, and beauty to this world.
I paint primarily with watercolor, but sometimes am led to use acrylic. My watercolors are rarely finished without what I call” popping the colors” with ink outlining. That is unless I am using my favorite yupo paper. Then they are finished with a lifting of the color with water.
Art is creative problem solving. I love the problems that evolve in each painting and relish reaching a successful conclusion to each. This creative problem solving is an integral part of all aspects of my life.
Biography
For Joan, Art has always been a journey.
Her work reflects this in its depiction of journeys both real and of the mind. She loves the explosion of color on paper. She discovered way in the early grades that everything, even our hands has a multitude of colors. So, she used many colors in all her school projects that were atypical of young students. In 7th grade, she was chosen to represent her city at a special art camp. This was the last art class she was allowed to attend until the last semester senior year of high school because “if you are going to college you cannot take art”. She then received a scholarship to a small college and was so excited to major in art. However, during registration, she was told that it was a waste of scholarship money to study art and was told she was a music major. This was a difficult year. The following year, Joan transferred to the University of Wisconsin Madison to study art. Living in Madison in the 70’s was in itself a journey of adventure; the art department being quite an adventure. (Anyone around at that time will know what it was like).
This journey took Joan from the art department to the Occupational Therapy Department. At that time, art was an integral part of the training for Occupational therapy and she continued to study art both at the university and at MATC in the evening. It was in the study of occupational therapy that she learned that art can be a process that brings healing, that art can enhance the quality of life, and that art can be something for everyone. It was through this training that she is now able to teach the very beginner, the person who has never tried painting, but always wanted to try.
Joan also learned that therapy is an art that demands a tremendous amount of creative energy. Joan has gained quite a reputation in therapy for enhancing the creative process for both patient and colleague. Through her private practice in Occupational Therapy, she has specialized in whole brain learning, and techniques that maximize human potential. This is incorporated in her Artist Retreats which are held at Telemark lodge in Cable, Wisconsin. These retreats are part of the Lee-Nee-Steine Creative workshops. So, along with watercolor, acrylic and ink, she also uses the medium of therapy to enhance the quality of life for all.
Influential Quotes
The Creator made us creative. Our creativity is our gift from God. Our use of it is our gift to God.
-Julia Cameron
Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.
- Picasso
Only when he no longer knows what he is doing, does the painter do good things.
-Edgar Degas
The fisherman know the the is dangerous and the terrible, but have never found these dangers sufficient reasons for remaining ashore.
-Vincent Van Gogh
Straight away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God.
-Johannes Brahms
A painting is never finished, it simply stops in interesting places.
-Paul Gardner
