Joan Lockhart Fine Art

Artist’s Statement

I am often accused of painting with a big smile on my face. To that I happily answer, "Guilty!"  

Painting fills me with pure joy, and I hope to portray that in my subjects -- whether I am painting a landscape en plein air or a bouquet of flowers in my studio.  I love capturing the color and sense of light of a particular time and place.

I majored in Fine Art and Art History but spent my career as a sales and marketing executive in technology start-ups. It was exciting and allowed me to travel the world, but left little time to paint. For many years, I was a 'Saturday' painter with an occasional workshop or painting vacation with friends.

Now, I am able to paint whenever I want, while living on beautiful Cape Cod. Surrounded by the sea and sparkling sand, the light here is magical.  I have also found a wonderful and welcoming art community here. I often wonder how I got so lucky!

My work is most influenced by the Impressionists for their sense of light and atmosphere; by the strong forms of Cezanne and the bold colors of Gauguin; by the masterful brushstrokes of Sargent and Sorolla; and the immediacy of the Cape Ann plein air painters.

I paint with a weekly figure painting group at the studio of Paul Schulenburg, a highly-regarded painter and friend. I take workshops when I can and love learning from artists I admire and the other artists in attendance.  

Over the years, I have taken workshops with Lori Putnam, Kevin McPherson, Kim English, Leah Lopez, Carol Maguire, Tom Dunlay, Bill Davis, Stan Moeller, Maryalice Eisenberg, Rosalie Nadeau, Stuart Shills, Melinda Cotsoona, Steve Kennedy, Michael Graves, Jeff Weaver, John Clayton and others. Although I mostly paint for my own pleasure, I exhibit at the local art associations and public exhibitions in the area — and even sell an occasional painting from my website!

Above all, my love of painting was most influenced by my late mentor and friend, David P. Curtis, of Gloucester, MA.  His knowledge, wit, generosity, encouragement, talent and friendship inspired me beyond words.

Copyright 2025  All images are the property of the artist.