Joan Blackburn, originally from Loxley, AL.,  is a well-known Pensacola artist and teacher whose specialty is watercolor florals.  She considers her paintings to be portraits of flowers, and loves to capture the exciting effects of bright sunlight casting shadows and varying the beautiful colors in the petals.

Joan began painting 30 years ago when her daughter left home for college.  The "empty nest" loomed heavily, so she began painting, taking art lessons to fill the emptiness with beauty.  At the time, she was employed as a bookkeeper, but 17 years ago decided to quit her job to become a full time professional artist.  Since then, she and her husband, Fred, have traveled to outdoor art festivals all over the country from California to Maine, from Minnesota to Key West and everywhere in between.  She has a wall in her studio covered with ribbons to prove her work was well received by judges as well as the buying public. "I paint because I love to be creative, love glorious color and beautiful things.  This is a way I can be surrounded with beauty without having to do the work of growing the flowers or getting my hands dirty.  I like to go to art shows and meet the people who purchase my work, being a part of the art community and teaching and sharing with others what I've learned through 30 years of study and experience."  Joan (pronounced as Joann) is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society and in 1999, was named a finalist in a national contest sponsored by the Artist Magazine. A professional artist for 30 years, Joan's work is included in public and private collections throughout this country and abroad.  Using good design and composition, vibrant color, strong value and sharp contrast, she produces award-winning work ranging from realism to non-objective that reflect years of training and study in different media and styles.

"Being an artist has enriched my life tremendously and there is a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction in this exciting, creative world of art."
To see more of Joan's art, visit her web site: www.joanblackburn.com