Joanne received a degree in art and worked in commercial design for several years before embarking on her career as a fine artist. She painted with acrylics on canvas and published numerous limited-edition reproductions.
Joanne began her collage work nearly twenty-five years ago when she learned the art of making paper by hand. In her collages Joanne uses her own handmade papers as well as papers made by hand in countries from around the world. Each sheet of handmade paper represents hours of careful labor. Plant fibers are mixed with water and beaten to a pulp in a large vat. The pulp is then lifted from the water by a fine mesh screen. A wooden frame called a deckle is used to shape the edges of the paper. The water drains away leaving behind a sheet of fiber which is pressed and dried to form paper. Many of the sheets contain inclusions of plant fibers, bark, leaves and petals.
Joanne’s most recent collages combine these richly-textured handmade papers with an impasto of acrylic paints on gallery-style canvases. In a variety of color palettes from subtle, earthy tones to bright, sunny hues, Joanne’s collages reflect the natural world around us. She draws her inspiration from the rolling hills of Tuscany, the stonework of an old Italian villa, the leaves of a light-dappled vineyard.
In paper collage Joanne has truly found her niche. The feel of the handmade paper, the fibers, the textures, the colors, all inspire her creations. Each collage forms a bridge across time and cultures to express Joanne’s own unique artistic vision.