Joan Bell Biography

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Joan Bell studied art at Oberlin College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Studio Art and Art History in 1974. She has also studied at East Carolina University, Penland School of Crafts, and the Corcoran School of Art. In the past several years, she has participated in workshops led by William Hipp, Margaret Hoyback, Joe Miller, Tony Griffin, and Janice Hassel. Joan Bell and her husband, Michael, live in Glendale Springs, NC, where they own and operate the Greenhouse Crafts Shop- “largest inventory of unique and beautiful gifts in the area”. They are active in the Ashe County Arts Council and the Ashe County Community Theater. Recently Joanie painted the large backdrop for the production of South Pacific, while Michael was the musical director. Through the years, Joanie has worked in a number of mediums. Her early interests in drawing, photography and oil painting broadened to include sculpture and watercolor. Her current passion has swung back to oil painting after a 25 year break during which she did terracotta sculpture, basket making, watercolors and raised two fine children, Kristen and Peter. “I enjoy painting in oils much more than any other medium I have tried. I take great delight in the richness of the colors and even in the texture of the paint itself. I feel I am able to find greater breadth of expression in this medium. It is well worth the extra cleanup time!” Joan Bell chooses her subjects from life experience. She often uses landscapes, nature, architecture, animals, and people of Ashe County, NC, England, and Wales in her paintings. To experience the scenes, moods, and colors of a Joan Bell painting is to share the beauty of the world through her eyes. Joan Bell exhibits regularly at the The Gallery of the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson, NC, the Ashe Memorial Hospital Gallery, and several restaurants. Her work is held in both private and corporate collections. Thanks for Visiting

The best way to contact Joanie is through the Greenhouse Crafts Shop in Glendale Springs, North Carolina. by mail: PO Box 7 28629-0007 by phone: 336-982-2618 or by email: Joanie at her domain JoanBell.com (i.e. name@domain separated here to deter spammers)