It's thrilling for me to make a vivid image come to life from a blank piece of paper. When I capture an ever-changing shadow, a fresh new bloom, or a sparkling dewdrop and transform it into a lasting work of art, I am filled with an unbelievable sense of fulfillment, even if it takes weeks or months to complete. As soon as I finish a painting, I am already eager to face the new challenges and surprises that will come with my next work.
Born and raised in Singapore, Joann moved to California in 1974. Although she enjoyed sketching and drawing from a young age and studied art during her college years, she didn't discover watercolor painting until she moved to Hawaii in the early 1990s. There, she met watercolorist Alexis Wilson. After taking a few workshops with Wilson, and later with Californian artists Elizabeth Kincaid and Sally Jorgensen, she was hooked on watercolors. She worked for many years to fine tune her work and establish her individual style. She loves to work on full-sized watercolor paper and paint subjects that are life-sized--or sometimes even larger than life. Her love of nature and gardening shine through in her work, which is focused around florals and still lifes. She also enjoys painting people, homes, and other elements of everyday life. She finds inspiration everywhere.