Joan Bishop
Artist's statement:
"I paint, print, construct, build, and create art to express my inner soul, thoughts, and feelings that I want to see in real form, tangible; rather than leave them quietly encased in my being. When something is so special in my heart and takes on great importance in my life I must make it real. Sometimes it is as simple as a landscape, a wonderful place I’ve visited. Other times it is complex, abstract, or a conglomerate of things joined together to put in real form the many emotions that elicit from a highly emotional event or experience. Whatever the reason, imagery, or style the end result brings peace to my being and joy to my world.
Living a meaningful life and creating art, manipulating spaces that show my deep appreciation of beauty, nature, culture, and wonderful memories, however the mood strikes me, is my passion. I am not bound by tradition, a particular medium or style. I work on what brings me joy in the moment, spontaneously and trusting in my intuition. I particularly love creating mixed-media pieces that include personal “treasures” (letters, stamps, feathers, trinkets, etc) that I have collected over the years. I strive to give voice to my inner soul and wish for my work to resonate with others so to share, bring joy, and credence to common experiences and feelings. So many of my pieces involve the universal heart image. I like it because it is simple, direct, and an easily understood icon. It doesn’t matter from what walk of life you are from, you get it and understand that there are things to be grateful for, things you love, or heartache you’ve felt that you want to honor. The crow is another image that I love to put in my work. It represents for me a force that is intelligent, mysterious, free, and strong. Whether I am working in clay, oil, mixed-media, gouache, or whatever else- it is a force that enables me to be free; free to bear my heart and soul and hoping my work may bring solace, inspiration, and happiness to others as well as myself."
Joan Bishop is an artist as well as the designer and owner of Joan Bishop Interiors since 2007. She lives and maintains her studio in East Greenwich, RI. After graduating from Rhode Island College in 1973 with a BS in Art Education she taught high school art for 28+ years and maintained a French/Art Exchange Program for 12 of those years. She received her MAE in Art Education from Rhode Island School of Design in 1987 while on her first sabbatical. Joan has been exhibiting and showing her art in various media through out New England since the 70’s and had the honor of showing her Taaniko weavings at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC in the late 70’s. Joan has worked in conjunction with The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, The Rhode Island Arts Learning Network, been adjunct faculty for Rhode Island College teaching Honors Art Courses in the public high school, served on many arts councils and evaluating committees, hosted various art workshops for statewide arts education events, and worked for the Rhode Island School of Design Museum while on her 2nd sabbatical in 1998-99. She has been the recipient of various grants and honors and continues to live a life that is artfully focused, inspired, and directed.
