Joan Larsen
Water-based paintings/monotypes
About the Artist
Spring Arbor, MI
Joan Larsen was born and raised in rural Saginaw County, MI.
She attended Delta College and Western Michigan University where she obtained a degree in Art Education (1974), with an emphasis in painting. She also attended art classes at Spring Arbor University and many art workshops.
Joan has exhibited work in numerous juried competitions both locally and statewide. She has had several one-woman exhibits including an exhibit at the University of Michigan.
Since the early 90's, Joan has pursued a career as a fine artist, working mainly with water media and water based monotypes. Her energetic monotypes are mostly of not so still life fruits and flowers. In loose interpretations, Joan captures not only the subject, but also the urgency of the moment.
Joan's artwork has been represented and sold at art galleries in mid Michigan. Her work is in many private collections and she is represented in the permanent art collection of CMS Energy World Headquarters in Jackson, Michigan.
In 2008, Joan was selected to design an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree (7th District, MI). She and her husband, Steve, attended the December 2, 2008 Artist Reception at The White House by the First Lady, Laura Bush.
Joan and her husband, Steve, live in Spring Arbor, MI. They have four children, and three grandchildren.At first glance, my work might look like pretty pictures of fruit and flowers.
She attended Delta College and Western Michigan University where she obtained a degree in Art Education (1974), with an emphasis in painting. She also attended art classes at Spring Arbor University and many art workshops.
Joan has exhibited work in numerous juried competitions both locally and statewide. She has had several one-woman exhibits including an exhibit at the University of Michigan.
Since the early 90's, Joan has pursued a career as a fine artist, working mainly with water media and water based monotypes. Her energetic monotypes are mostly of not so still life fruits and flowers. In loose interpretations, Joan captures not only the subject, but also the urgency of the moment.
Joan's artwork has been represented and sold at art galleries in mid Michigan. Her work is in many private collections and she is represented in the permanent art collection of CMS Energy World Headquarters in Jackson, Michigan.
In 2008, Joan was selected to design an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree (7th District, MI). She and her husband, Steve, attended the December 2, 2008 Artist Reception at The White House by the First Lady, Laura Bush.
Joan and her husband, Steve, live in Spring Arbor, MI. They have four children, and three grandchildren.At first glance, my work might look like pretty pictures of fruit and flowers.
I paint my observations of still life set ups. Live fruits. Live flowers. Set ups that are in a constant state of flux.
I am acutely aware of the life force drifting away from my freshly picked lilacs. I cringe a bit when I see brown spots starting to form on a pear. I want to capture my subject at its peak.
In rendering each painting, there is an urgency to get it painted and printed quickly!
My "not so still life" paintings deal with the brevity of life; each painting is a celebration of life. Each is a call to the viewer to inhale every precious moment, take nothing for granted, not even a simple piece of fruit.
I am acutely aware of the life force drifting away from my freshly picked lilacs. I cringe a bit when I see brown spots starting to form on a pear. I want to capture my subject at its peak.
In rendering each painting, there is an urgency to get it painted and printed quickly!
My "not so still life" paintings deal with the brevity of life; each painting is a celebration of life. Each is a call to the viewer to inhale every precious moment, take nothing for granted, not even a simple piece of fruit.
