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About me
My paintings are contemporary impressionist in style. I combine strong composition and value with spontaneous application of colorful pigments using the effects of natural light. In my landscapes I hope to conjure up memories of a time in our lives or a desired place yet to visit. I like to catch the significant characteristic and energy of the people in my paintings and drawings. I combine this casual spontaneity with my classical training to produce my original pieces.
I was born in Bordeaux, France. My family returned to Philadelphia in the early 1950's when my father retired from the diplomatic service. I was surrounded by European and Asian art in my home and enjoyed visits to museums in the area. I attended Tyler College of Art while still in high school. I was fortunate to have excellent instructors and filled many sketch pads. While only sixteen, a friend's brother went about being my agent and went about selling my drawings and painting to his parent's friends. With the money I made, I went alone to France and Spain to see the great museums there. Upon my return I became a full time student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. While there parents offered me money for the portraits I did of my fellow students. Immediately after art school I had a one person show in New York City. I continued to show and win prizes in New York and Philadelphia as well as teaching art and painting portraits. In addition to creating individual pieces, I designed and executed theatre stage sets for eight years.
The world around me and the people in it inspire me. The artist whose work I most admire is John Singer Sargent. I am fortunate to be doing what I love and to be painting every day. I am a very prolific painter, comfortable in all media and all types of subject matter. Painting ideas pour out of me. If I see a beautiful sight before me, I stop and take a photograph. It could be someone planting a garden, a couple walking, a sun setting, or a reflection. I later paint from the photo, remembering the moment.
I am very happily married to my husband, TJ, for thirty years. He is a professor at Western Washington University. He has always encouraged my art as well as been my most honest critic. We have two creative sons. Painting in my home has been important to me. When my sons were living at home, I was there for them or their friends when I was needed. Fun for me is being with friends and family. Since a visual artist is isolated, I have balanced that by doing volunteer work wherever I have lived for thirty-five years. I also paint and draw with other artist friends as well as share in supportive constructive critique groups. Dance is an activity I loved doing before I had children. Now, any sport I can do that slightly resembles dance brings me joy. This may be why I've enjoyed painting dancers.
Being one of the artists in the Whatcom Artist Studio tour for the last three years, I've opened my home to show what I paint, where I paint and how I paint. Having lived in Bellingham for twenty years, I've shown at many of the local galleries as well as Bellevue, Edmonds, and in 2004 won best in show at the Anacortes Art at the Port show. Barnes and Noble book store will be showing a number of my oils and prints of ballerinas in March. My goal is to keep painting and hopefully bring joy to others through my art work.
Joy S. Olney
Formal Training
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Full time 1967-1972
Tyler College of Art 1966
Exhibitions
- 2006 Juried Show "Whatcom Studio Tour" Blue Horse Gallery Bellingham, Wa.
- 2006 Juried Show "Nuart '06 Open Competition" Juror, Rock Hushka Anacortes, Wa.
- 2006 Juried Show " Edmonds Fine Arts Show" Edmonds, Wa
- 2005 Juried Show " Whatcom Studio Tour" Allied Arts Gallery Bellingham, Wa.
- 2005 Juried Show " Edmonds Fine Arts Show" Edmonds, Wa.
- 2004 Juried Show "Whatcom Studio Tour" Allied Arts Gallery Bellingham, Wa.
- 2004 Juried Show"Group Show" Allied Arts Gallery Bellingham, Wa.
- 2004 Juried "Eastside Association of Fine Arts" Special Art Award Bellevue, Wa.
- 2004 Juried Show " Art at the Port" Anacortes Best in Show. Juror, Richard V. West Bellingham Wa.
- 2004 Juried "Many Hands" Allied Arts Gallery Bellingham Wa.
- 2003 "GASP artist Group" Blue Horse Gallery Bellingham Wa.
- 2001 Juried "Attic Artists"Roeder Home Gallery Bellingham, WA.
- 1998 "Heart Works"Whatcom Museum Bellingham, Wa.
- 1996 "Portraits of Artists" Blue Horse Gallery by invitation, July
- 1996 One person show "Pacific Coast Landscapes" Roeder Home, Bellingham, WA
- 1994 One person show "Faces of Bellingham" Roeder Home, Bellingham, WA
- 1982 Juried show "Dore Ashton Selects" Marymount Manhattan College, NYC
- 1981 Cork Gallery, Lincoln Center, NYC "Diverse Directions"
- 1980 Juried show Federal Reserve Bank Philadelphia
- 1980 Juried show Parnassus Square Gallery Woodstock, N.Y.
- 1980 Juried show The Fine Arts Gallery Tom's River, N.J.
- 1980 Ellen Lubell's Juried show West Beth Gallery, New York City
- 1979 Membership Show Art Center of Northern N.J.
- 1977 Juried show Art Center of Marin, California
- 1976 Juried show Art Center of Marin, California
- 1976 Juried show Pennsylvania Artists Bicentennial Exhibition, Harrisburg Museum
- 1976 Membership Show Philadelphia Art Alliance
- 1975 Membership Show Philadelphia Art Alliance
- 1975 Juried show Philadelphia Sketch Club
- 1975 One person show Pennsylvania State University Ogantz Campus
- 1974 Juried show Philadelphia Sketch Club Third Prize
- 1973 Juried show Philadelphia Sketch Club Honorable Mention
- 1973 One Person Show Caravan House Gallery N.Y.C.
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