About the Artist …
Hi, I’m Joy Skinner, a fine artist who has spent years exploring the beauty of watercolor and acrylic painting. Art has always been my passion, and over time, I’ve expanded my creative pursuits in ways I never imagined. At this point, there is NO shortage of new projects on the go. Most recently I have published three coloring books for adults and children, and today I'm working on my first romance novel.
How I Got Started
I was at a time in my life when I was really struggling. I was a single Mom and both of my kids decided in the same month that it was time to sprout wings and leave the nest. Up until then, I was a BUSY Mom running after them, making sure all was right in their world. I worked full time so my days were filled, but oh my, what to do with myself in the evenings. Over the Christmas break, I took a trip down south to visit my folks. While there, I stumbled across an art group that was filled with older people, like 80ish or more. They were all beginner artists who were actually painting amazing pieces and I thought, “Man, if they can do this so can I”, and the rest is history.
My artistic journey began with a camera in one hand and paintbrushes in the other. I've always been had the ability to see relationships between light and color. This, along studying the works of other artists, helped me to bring animal, floral, and landscape paintings to life. Watercolor and acrylics have always been my preferred mediums. They help to express the fluidity of nature and the vibrancy of the world around us. I've been fortunate enough to show my work in some pretty big shows and have taught many workshops over the years. My work has evolved a LOT, but a basic love for color, composition, and storytelling through art remains at the heart of every Original Painting or Giclee Reproduction that I create.
Why I Love to Create Art
I create art to turn feelings into form, process emotions, and connect with others. It’s a need to create, learn, explore, and leave my mark.
My Favorite Type of Art to Create
My favorite type of art to create is a floral or a landscape. It would likely be high contrast, allowing the lights and darks to play off each other. Most of my work is nature-inspired. I aim for pieces that evoke emotion, tell a story, allow the viewer a chance for reflection, and invite personal interpretation. I love painting anything ocean-related, whether that's birds or the shoreline. My current challenge is to paint looser and that's been fun!
Where I find my Inspiration
My work is deeply inspired by the untamed beauty of nature, the interplay of light on a subject, the delicate architecture of flowers, and the raw energy of wildlife. My goal is to capture a fleeting moment, offering a serene escape that reconnects the audience with the beauty of the world around us. Personal struggles, joy, relationships, and deep emotions also serve as inspiration for artistic expression, allowing me to translate feelings like love, loss, and anxiety into visual forms.