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Joan Blond Artist – Up Close & Personal

Joan Blond Studio 1

Yarra Valley based artist Joan Blond portrays her passion for colour and nature in her vibrant impressionist artworks. Largely self-taught Joan embraced her life long love of painting when she moved into working as a full time artist after a long career in the legal industry. The exuberant use of colour in Joan’s work creates a joyous spectacle for the viewer invoking the best of Australia’s abundance of nature.

Enjoy Getting to Know … Joan Blond

When did you first feel the desire to be artistic and realize you had talent?

I have always loved painting and have dabbled for years but did not paint as much when I had 3 young children to raise. However when they grew up & left home I started painting again and people started asking if they could purchase my work.  I realised people really did love my work.   I painted on the weekends and from Monday – Friday I worked as an executive PA for a partner of a law firm for 21 years, but finally took the leap of faith and left to pursue painting as a full time career.

Where did you learn your art?

My mother was a very talented artist so I have always been surrounded by art, I have had no formal training but have attended quite a few workshops run by various artists and picked up some interesting tips. Basically I’m self taught.

What inspires you most?

I derive my inspiration from the rural surroundings where I live, my connection to the country and positive energy.  Also from memory of beautiful landscapes I have seen. I get a lot of feedback from people who say that my paintings evoke happiness and they are uplifting.

What message are you sending to the viewer of your art?

The message I am sending the viewer of my art is one of happiness, a love of life and a love of the beautiful colours we are surrounded by and positive energy.

Describe your studio…

I am based in Yellingo in the Yarra Valley.  My studio is not large and I often paint quite large pieces so it can be challenging negotiating moving around the space.  I don’t use an easel very often, I usually sit my canvasses on milk bottle crates, I have towels on top & sheets on the floor.  I lean the canvasses back against my dining room chairs and my big table.  I have 4 different shelves with drawers and I separate all my colours so I can find them easily.  Then other drawers with brushes, mediums, glazes & varnishes.

But I love where I live and appreciate the rolling hills and beautiful gum trees which I can view through the floor to ceiling glass windows in my small studio. Eventually I would like to find a larger space to work from.

What message are you sending to the viewer of your art?

The message I am sending the viewer of my art is one of happiness, a love of life and a love of the beautiful colours we are surrounded by and positive energy.

What mediums do you use and why?

I use a medium to make my paints blend better and smoother to paint into the canvass.  Sometimes it’s a slow medium if the paint is drying too quickly for instance in hot weather.  I also have a gloss medium if I want a glossy effect with my paint. Sometimes once a colour dries I add medium or a glaze & go over that area with another colour for a different effect.

What are you working on now?

I’m just finishing a large commission for a client from one my galleries. I’m doing 4 paintings for a group exhibition and I’m doing 14 paintings for an Art Fair in Hampstead, London.

What are your recent career achievements you feel proud of?

My recent career achievements that I am proud of would be my big solo exhibition I had at the end of November 2019 which was nearly a sell out, and sending 14 paintings to an Art Fair in Battersea, London and being asked to paint works for the Art Fair in Hampstead, London my first time doing international Art Fairs.

What do you love most about what you do?

The thing I love best about what I am doing is being able to create beautiful art for people.  I love the fact that you can never stop learning in your art practice and it’s an ever evolving skill.  It’s fantastic to earn money doing what I absolutely love – so it doesn’t actually feel like work at all.

Where can you see yourself in 10 years time?

In 10 years time I sincerely hope I am doing the same thing.  I wouldn’t want it an other way. Painting and creating and loving life.

Joan Blond Artworks – All Sold


JahRoc Galleries currently have no Joan Blond painting for sale.