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Artist Statement
I attended art classes throughout high school and college, but stopped my artistic pursuit while I was working, dabbling in it only occasionally, mostly portrait work and art classes. When I moved to Florida and had more free time, I seized the opportunity to pursue my hobby full time.
My major influences are a beautiful landscape, a wonderful touching moment at sunset, a person's adorable pet, or listening to someone describe something they love. My favorite artists who influence my work are; J.M.W. Turner, Manet, Monet, and Rembrandt.
Patch: How did you get your start as an artist?
Whittinghill: I took art classes in high school and a few in college. However, I stopped art while I was working. But, I dabbled at it from time to time, doing portraits and taking occasional classes. When I moved to Florida and had more free time, it seemed like a great opportunity to pursue my hobby full timI find that often people assume artists are temperamental or at least very independent. I don't think this is the case, rather I see fellow artists as being not much different from anyone else, but I believe they tend to see things differently and are inspired to reproduce on canvas what they see . Artists see the beauty in everyday things. For instance, I enjoy painting everyday household items almost as much as a beautiful person or frisky pet. I only paint things I enjoy, most of my paintings are of people, animals, simple still lifes, and occasional landscapes.
I love children and pets which I find to be the most important things in everyone's lives. I especially love to see the reaction when I present a finished portrait to the proud owner.
Email Joan Whittinghill
VISIT JOAN AT FINE ART AMERICA
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