Joni's Story

Artist, Teacher, Cancer Survivor

I credit my mother for my love of drawing and enthusiasm for art. My work has been a guiding force throughout my life, from my earliest elementary school years to college, to my teaching career and throughout motherhood...

I've been teaching art since I was 17, beginning from my home in my native New York, where I received an AS Rockland Community College, followed by a BA in K-12 art education at St.Thomas Aquinas college. After college, I married and became a military wife, moving every two years or so. This gave me the opportunity to teach all across the country, including private lessons, private and public schools, senior citizens, special needs children and the blind. Among my awards and exhibitions, many of which are listed here, I was featured in American Artist Magazine's Survey of Leading Contemporary Artists.

I work and specialize in all mediums, my style ranging from realism from impressionism private studio from 86 to 98 I currently dedicate most of my work to various charity events and pursuing the second half the requirements to earn a Master's Degree.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, my art helped carry me through the painful years of illness and the following times of recovery and remission. Since surviving my battle with the disease I have exclusively dedicated the majority of my work to the cause of fighting cancer and bringing comfort to others who do, as well...