How It All Started
Whatever Happened To?
Joan says, "It's always so hard to "toot" ones own horn, but I have had such an amazing life since KP." Although she lost the "Most Artistic" to Karen Menne, Joan did continue to pursue her art education and it became her professional career and passion. She clearly remembers Mrs. Adams giving her a "D" in art, and when Joan filmed her first TV show she asked the director if she could say, "Hello! Mrs. Adams -- Look at me now!" Joan considers herself fortunate to have been one of the few TV artists in the 1980's and 90's when the "How To" art shows were aired on all the PBS stations. That was the beginning of the educational shows that now have been replaced by all the cooking, decorating and travel shows. Joan says, "Oh! Well! My 15 minutes of fame was still an amazing experience." For thirty-plus years her art has enabled her to travel all over the world while conducting artists painting retreats. Art will always be her life's passion second only to her fours sons, her daughter-in-laws and her six grandchildren. Joan believes that everyones mission in life should be to live joyfully and to bring joy to others. Retirement will never happen for Joan -- "I'm having too much fun and God willing I will continue to do what I do until........"Joan is too modest to, as she put it "toot" her own horn, so I will do it for her. The following appears on the web site: www.artteachers.orgAbout the Artist
This semi retired, energetic and dedicated artist now resides in Indiana after selling her art business after thirty years of teaching thousands of students at her Darflinger School of Fine Art in St. Charles Illinois. She is now enjoying the next chapter in her life as she focuses on taking fellow artists on plein air painting retreats all over the world. In the past five years Joan has conducted plein air painting retreats in Monet's Garden, Giverny France, at beautiful locations throughout Italy, Sicily, British West Indies, China, Switzerland, Germany, Hawaii and next on to Ireland. She now lives at the waters edge of Koontz Lake in Indiana where she also conducts painting workshops in her home which was once a fishing lodge. Joan shows no signs of slowing down, teaching with enthusiasm and painting with passion is such a joy in her life second only to her love of family, grandchildren and dear friends.This dedication has long been a part of her life. Her childhood love of art was encouraged and nurtured by her family and continued at the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Joan has become a prize winning artist, and a well respected art instructor. She has also enjoyed being one of the many TV artists on PBS stations through the Alexander Art Company as well as her own shows on local cable stations titled Painting with Joan.
Her characteristic style includes a wide variety of subjects from portraiture, landscapes, still life, seascapes and murals. This prolific artist has created more than four thousand paintings during her career and still continues to enjoy painting and sharing her talents with students.
How about that! And, she's one of our very own KP alumni - Class of January 1958!
