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Joyce Eesley

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Artist

I am a signature member of Philadelphia Watercolor Society, and Wisconsin Watercolor Society (Treasurer).  I also belong to Transparent Watercolor Society (Lifetime Member), American Watercolor Society, Watercolor Honor Society, National Watercolor Society, California Watercolor Society, Allied Artists of America, Wisconsin Visual Artists, and League of Milwaukee Artists.   My art has been juried into many national and International exhibitions winning numerous awards.  My artwork is in Springfield Art Museum’s (Springfield, MO) and West Bend Insurance Company’s permanent collections along with many private collections throughout the United States. 

Hello!

I was born in Michigan and attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan.  I received a BA in Art Education from Alverno College, Milwaukee and have been a resident of Milwaukee for many years.  After retiring from teaching in the local school system I have become a full-time artist.  

I find watercolor to be such an exciting medium to use.  Every painting is a new challenge and learning experience.  My still lifes are created using interesting thrift store objects, fruits, vegetables and flowers.  They often include convincing minute reflected details on metal vessels and the many facets of cut glass vases.    

I use 140lb. Arches cold pressed paper and only six transparent and staining pigments.   By using three primary warm colors and three primary cool colors I am able to obtain great contrast with an infinite array of color variations.  The vibrant translucent quality of my paintings consists of many glazes of paint.  One layer of paint is dry before applying another allowing the previous layers to glow through.

I enjoy doing detailed artwork using a variety of graphite pencils also.  It is always an exciting challenge to create the wide array of monochromic values.    Dutch still life masters as well as the German painter, Albrecht Dürer, have been an inspiration for me.  I am driven to push myself further into my desire to produce artwork that will draw others to.   I will always be a student continuing to grow as an artist.