"Love glory more than money, art more than glory, nature more than art"
- Carolus Duran
Read an interview with the artist at: http://ccpvideos.com/community/blog/interview-artist-joyce-durkin
Biography
Joyce Durkin
Artist Statement
Nature has been my inspiration since childhood. My earliest memories are of roaming the nearby fields and meadows catching butterflies. A career in art was never even considered since that was not considered a "real job". I started taking art lessons when I was a young mother with several children. I had received a copy of "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Edith Holden and felt I'd finally discovered what I'd always unknowingly wanted to do. It would be many years and many art lessons later before I finally mastered the watercolor medium. It would be even more years before I could devote myself entirely to art. I am currently retired from the nursing profession and living my long-dreamed-of life. I eat, sleep, and breathe art every day - what could be better?!
My paintings primarily focus on the natural world, especially flowers. I refer to them as "botanical illustrations in context", that is, placed in their natural settings as opposed to a blank white background, but with that background diffused to make the main subject stand out. The background is often the trickiest part of the painting and I take care to eliminate any distractions while I work on this large wet-in-wet area. The work becomes so absorbing that I have little recollection of the process when it is completed and I am often pleasantly surprised at the result. I work primarily in watercolor but like to venture into oils occassionally because I enjoy the buttery consistency and feel of the medium.
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having other people appreciate my creations and want them in their home or office. I hope my work encourages people to appreciate the beauty and vulnerability of the natural world and share my enthusiasm for protecting it.
Biography
It was a long and circuitous route to the world of art for Joyce. She was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and married soon after graduation from nursing school. Repeated corporate relocations and raising six children left little time to pursue her love of drawing and painting. But taking art classes turned out to be a good way to meet new friends and become acclimated to each new community. She's been permanently settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania since 1991.
For over 30 years now, she has sought to interpret and share the beauty of the natural world. From the exuberant colors and forms of her favorite plants and flowers to the quiet places and spaces of the outdoors, she brings your attention to the often overlooked treasures that nature has to offer. Her hope is that by riveting the viewers' attention, she can inspire them to protect and cherish the world's natural wonders and resources. To that end, she contributes a percentage of her sale profits to organizations that work to preserve and protect the environment.
Since her emergence onto the public art scene, she has garnered numerous awards and many favorable comments from judges and collectors. She is an active member and exhibitor in many art organizations, including the American Watercolor Society, the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society (current board member), the Philadelphia Watercolor Society (signature member), the Baltimore Watercolor Society (signature member and current board member), the York Art Association (former board member), and the Village Art Association of Lititz, where she served as President from 2002 to 2009.
The artist contributes to the following organizations and hopes that you will consider doing so also:
The Wilderness Society
615 M St. NW Suite200
Washington, DC 20036
www.wilderness.org
Sierra Club
85 Second St., 2nd flr.
San Francisco, CA 94105-3441
www.sierraclub.org
Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
www.defenders.org
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 W. 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
www.nrdc.org
National Audubon Society
225 Varick St. 7th flr., Dept.W
New York, NY 10014
www.audubon.org
National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Dr.
Reston, VA 20190
www.nwf.org
The Nature Conservancy
4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203-1606
www.nature.org
Greenpeace
702 H St. NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20001
www.greenpeace.org
Earthjustice
426 17th St.
Oakland, CA 94612
www.earthjustice.org
Penn Environment
1420 Walnut St., Suite 650
Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.pennenvironment.org
Upcoming Events and Exhibits
Lititz Springs Outdoor Art Show Lititz Springs Park, Route 501, Lititz, PA 7/27/2013-7/27/2013 Reception: (9-5)
This is a very nice, well-attended outdoor show featuring only fine art - no crafts allowed. It is sponsored by the Village Art Association of Lititz and numerous monetary prizes are given in all categories. While there, take time to take in the sights - Lititz is a very charming, historic town with numerous fine shops and restaurants.
For more information visit: www.lititzart.com
Landis Woods Art Show Landis Woods Park, Neffsville, PA 9/28/2013-9/28/2013 Reception: (9-5)
This is a smaller outdoor venue, but also well-attended. It features mostly fine art, but finer craftwork can also be seen. They also give monetary prizes and sometimes have musicians playing. The nearby woods have an easy walking trail and the Boetcher House Museum there features exhibits of local wildlife.
Upcoming Workshops
Other Web Pages that Joyce Durkin Recommends you visit
(These pages are not necessarily about Joyce Durkin)
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