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JoAnne Crowson, Contemporary Abstract Artist
JoAnne Crowson, the artist behind Joanie C Art Studio
Through my abstract pieces, I aim to capture the essence of emotion and movement through bold colors and intricate layers. My work reflects the world around me, from the serene blues of Southwest Florida, where I currently live, to the rugged landscapes of the Midwest, where I grew up. Each painting is a journey guided by music and emotions, allowing the subject matter to choose me as I create.

My inspiration comes from the endless possibilities of each piece, pushing boundaries and exploring new techniques to evolve the final composition. Starting without a clear concept, I build up layers of paint to create a rich and dynamic surface, blending custom colors and shapes to guide the viewer's eye.

In each painting, I strive to strike a balance between chaos and calm, offering moments of rest amidst the vibrant energy of the composition. With touches of oil and alcohol ink adding depth and complexity, my work is a unique exploration of color and form that invites the viewer to join me on a visual journey through emotion and expression.

​The Long Road to Becoming an Artist

My journey into the world of art was definitely not a straight line. When I was young, I was a music kid, which meant I was not allowed to take art classes in school. I did not realize at the time what I was missing. After college I started a career in the information technology field and eventually became an independent project management consultant. The closest I came to creative projects was when I was designing websites. Honestly, I loved my job. The challenge of taking disparaging pieces of information, making sense of them, and then piecing them together to complete a project was very satisfying.

 

I married a wonderful man, eventually had a child, and went about my life still not realizing that something was missing. I decorated cakes as a hobby and used to joke that I could create anything with icing, but don’t give me a pencil and paper.

 

As I approached retirement, I knew I would need to find something that would fill the void when I was no longer working. I realized I would need something that gave me purpose; something that I was passionate about. My daughter suggested that I try flow painting, so I watched a few YouTube videos, bought myself some basic painting supplies and started painting. To say I became obsessed with seeing what I could create would be a gross understatement.

 

By 2019 I had retired, and my husband and I relocated to Naples, Florida.  Finally, I had the time to paint every day. Before long I wanted more control on how the final piece would look, so I bought myself some brushes and pallet knives and returned to YouTube to learn how to use them and it was then that I discovered the world of abstract art. A whole new world of art opened up for me; one field with vivid color and patterns that all had to be pieced together by analyzing their pieces and combining them to create a beautiful painting. Perhaps computers and art are not really that far apart!

 

Finally, I enrolled in abstract art classes to expand my techniques and eventually began showing my work in local shows and two of the COCO Art Gallery locations in Southwest Florida.

 

During this journey I discovered that moving across the country and spending all my time alone in the studio could be lonely. I knew I had to fix this so I broadcasted a call in my community to other artists so we could gather as an artist community. From this initial gathering I founded the Art Guild of Naples, a nonprofit artist community dedicated to helping visual artists succeed.  Now I serve as a Vice President of the Art Council of Southwest Florida helping to expand the artist and helping artists achieve their artistic goals.

 

Life is good!

Awards and Recognition
  • 'Crescendo', a 24x30 mixed media painting on canvas appeared in the 34th edition of Spotlight Magazine, published October 2023 

  • ‘Own Your Dreams’, a mixed media piece was published in Artistonish Magazine publication of August 2022  https://www.artistonish.com/august2022?AW=AW127418104

  • JoAnne’s mixed media piece ‘Own Your Dreams’  was selected for the international  Biafarin Awards – 2022 exhibition

  • JoAnne was awarded 3rd Place in the Bucolic Florida art show sponsored by the COCO Art Gallery for her piece ‘Coastal Reflections’, an acrylic coastal seascape reminiscent of the shores of Tampa, Florida.

  • JoAnne was selected for an international exhibition, True Beauty, sponsored by Exhibizone for her mixed media floral piece ‘Garden’s Gate’.

  • JoAnne’s piece mixed media  ‘Own Your Dreams’ was selected for the international exhibition Happiness, sponsored by Exhibizone.

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