Jenny Joyce

The visual arts have always resonated with me. Before we had a television, as children we would gather around a book belonging to my mother. The book had full color prints of the world's 100 "most famous" paintings and we would fabricate stories about the images. Now I realize how much that programmed me to love narrative in the visual arts. As a child, the mystery of a good painting would intrigue me. To this day, I still believe that mystery is always a component of my art.

There was a fabulous art department in my high school, and I took as many classes as I could. Following high school, I went on to get a degree in Fine Art Education from Hofstra University in New York.

Immediately after graduation, I went into the Peace Corps, teaching English in Ethiopia. It was an invaluable experience. Leaving the United States and coming into contact with such a different culture and economic climate opened me up to a world view that has to be experienced to be comprehended. From the time of my return to this country, until the present, I have focused on painting. I began in Abstract Expressionism, eventually evolving to being primarily a landscape painter. I shared my love of painting and drawing with children as an artist in the schools, and began doing interior and exterior murals, along with my studio work. As a studio artist, I show paintings at the Portland Art Museum's Rental Sales Gallery and the Guardino Gallery in Portland's Alberta Arts district..

Working like this, in such a variety of settings and with many diverse goals, has been a wonderful opportunity to grow as an artist. There is the added benefit of working with a group of talented and inspiring artists, for a company that is unique in its vision. -- Jenny Joyce

In 1993, my friend Joe Cotter called and told me that Mike McMenamin was looking for artists to paint doors for Edgefield, the former county poor farm in Troutdale, OR. I went with Joe to Edgefield one winter day and showed my portfolio to Mr. McMenamin. We agreed I would begin with a series of paintings on doors, highlighting the natural history of the area. The very first painting I did was an owl.

Over the years working with McMenamins, of course, the subject matter has varied widely, from straight historical representation to wildly imaginative takes on history and people. I've done everything from simple decorative treatments, like borders in rooms, to spot pieces on walls, to painting faces on pipes, as well as doing lettering and portraiture.

Working like this, in such a variety of settings and with many diverse goals, has been a wonderful opportunity to grow as an artist. There is also the added benefit of working with a group of talented and inspiring artists, for a company that is unique in its vision.

As a studio artist, Joyce also shows paintings at the Portland Art Museum's Rental Sales Gallery and the Spiral Gallery in Estacada, Ore.

You can see more of Jenny's work at her website, jennyjoyceart.com.