Joan is a native Vermonter with a lifelong appreciation for small town community life and the natural settings that come with living in New England. She divides her creative time between Maine and Vermont, and her love and appreciation of these settings is depicted in her watercolor scenes. Joan is known for her vivid use of transparent watercolor, especially evident in her paintings of autumn leaves, lighthouses, and Vermont scenes.

Joan studied oil painting in Tacoma, Washington and graphic art at The Community College of Vermont. She worked in graphic design for a printing company for five years and free-lanced as a graphic artist. Joan is passionate about watercolor. Her primary education in this medium has been through workshops and disciplined practice. She has studied with contemporary watercolor masters Frank Webb, Tony Couch, Skip Lawrence, Tom Lynch, Peter Huntoon, & Robert J. O'Brien.

Joan is a signature member of the Vermont Watercolor Society. She exhibits at the Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center, The Moonbrook Art Gallery, The Chaffee Art Center in Rutland, and at The Brandon Artists Guild in Brandon, Vermont. She is an active member of the Brandon Artists Guild and a gallery assistant at The Frog Hollow Craft Center in Middlebury. Joan has taught student watercolor lessons through the SOAR after school arts enrichments program, group lessons, including teaching at The Frog Hollow Art & Craft School, and private lessons.