Joanne Shank

I currently work in three different painting styles. Endlessly intrigued with nature, the focus of much of my paintings has been local birds and vegetation. My work is influenced by classes taken with several Chinese artists. The use of the bamboo brush and minimal brush strokes lends itself to the freshness of the subject. I continue to explore the fluidity of watercolor and strive to capture the energy of nature’s ever changing imagery.I also enjoy doing musician gesture drawings. These are done while listening to live performances so that the music influences the lines. I do many sketches in order to accomplish my goal of expressing the most with the least amount of line.Recently I’m returning to abstracts. Using acrylic paint as a medium, I spend a lot of attention mixing the colors while referring to color combinations in nature. Then with careful manipulation, sometimes only using my hands, I allow the paint to pool and flow creating the natural abstractions. Frequently I find some of the most exciting areas to be rather small, so photograph and enlarge the area creating new compositions.Though these three styles appear very different, they are similar in that I am trying to capture the energy of the moment.Commissions are welcomed.