Art critic David Betz describes Joan’s work as “sensual organic abstract painting,” underscoring her deep connection to nature and her sensitivity to the inherent design of natural forms. Her Earth Objects series embodies this connection through the incorporation of found materials—twigs, leaves, pods—gathered along local hiking trails. These elements become central to her compositions, honoring the raw and often overlooked beauty of the natural world.

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Joan’s earlier work was defined by a technique she developed called image archaeology™, a hybrid digital and physical process that sought to uncover the 'skeletal essence' of natural materials. By manipulating and layering organic forms, she revealed hidden structures and patterns, transforming the act of painting into one of excavation and discovery. This method became a signature element of her practice, establishing a language of layered meaning and sensory depth.

More recently, Joan has expanded her visual vocabulary by introducing hand-sculpted ceramic animals into her work. These man-made forms create deliberate tension with the natural objects she collects, provoking questions about the boundary between the artificial and the organic. The resulting compositions invite a dialogue between human influence and the natural environment—between intervention and reverence.

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As her practice evolves, Joan has turned to classical atelier techniques to deepen her engagement with observation, structure, and precision. This rigorous, layered approach complements her earlier experimental methods, bringing new clarity and discipline to her work. The integration of traditional training with her instinctive connection to materials marks a new phase in her artistic development—one rooted in both curiosity and craftsmanship.

Joan’s paintings continue to explore the relationship between form and background, object and space. Through thoughtful composition, layered media, and a tactile process, each piece becomes more than a static image—it becomes a resonant interaction between artist, material, and the living world.

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In addition to her studio work, Joan has been painting en plein air and drawing regularly, applying techniques learned from artist Ian Robertson. Her focus in this work has been the landscapes and everyday scenes surrounding her farm in rural Virginia. In spring 2024, Joan became a member of the McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, the oldest artist cooperative and center in Virginia. In summer 2025, she will open her new exhibition space, the Red Tractor Gallery, located in Palmyra, VA.