Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanne Y. Pierce.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in 1957 on Long Island, New York to a large and incredibly talented family. Both sides of my family, one from Jackson Heights, Queens and the other from New London, Connecticut, were highly gifted craftsmen, woodcarvers, and artists, some with no more than eighth grade educations.
My father Joe, a world-class decoy carver, worked for Sperry Rand and my mother Jane was a home typist for Publisher’s Clearing House while raising myself, my sisters Susan and Mary, my brother Joseph, and her own younger siblings who lost my Grandmother at an early age. My Italian-American working-class neighborhood of Manorhaven was the home of some of the most beautiful views of Manhasset Bay and the Gold Coast of Long Island.
Since a small child, I was constantly dreaming about and drawing horses in beautiful landscape settings. Full of support and encouragement, my family noticed my passion and talent at an early age and made sure that I pursued it. I also owe a great deal to my Junior High School art teacher Larry Silberman who, knowing my family couldn’t afford it, waived his fee for private lessons.
Upon graduation from High School in 1975, I had saved enough money from my grueling and character-building job as a server at a local seafood restaurant to attend the esteemed art school at SUNY New Paltz. My parents insisted that I obtain an Art Education degree so that I could not only broaden my artistic talents, but also sharpen what were already clear-cut signs of strong teaching attributes.
After spending countless weekends of my childhood attending decoy shows with my family as my father displayed and sold his work, I understood and accepted the plight of the “starving artist”. In 1979 I graduated from New Paltz and moved back to Long Island where I substituted in the Nassau County public school system, taught pre-school, and was a secretary in retail sales and compliance at Bear Stearns in the wild time of the early 80s on Wall Street. I took on many other odd jobs as I developed my portfolio and commissioned murals and pieces in Manhattan. By my late twenties, I had my work exhibited in some of the most renowned galleries across the North East – Woods Hole Art Gallery in Cape Cod, Farmington Valley Arts in Avon, CT, the Fitzgerald Gallery in Westhampton Beach, NY, Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY and the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, NY.
At 30 I married and shortly thereafter had two beautiful children, Tom and Marie. In order to give them the life I felt they truly deserved, I took a sabbatical from my art and teaching career to raise them full-time. On occasion, I would get a booth at local craft fairs to display my work and small crafts that I developed for fun, but my focus was elsewhere. That was until the year 2000 when my sister Mary approached me about illustrating a children’s book that she was developing. “Mint’s Christmas Message” is an uplifting story about Mint, a retired champion pony, who teaches his trainer, Grandpa Tom, a timeless lesson about Christmas. After hearing the story, which was based on a sermon Mary’s father-in-law would preach during Christmastime, it touched me so much that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Within a year of being printed, we were in the running for the Benjamin Franklin Award for best new voice among independent publishers.
Now that Tom and Marie are grown and have flown the coop, I have the new-found time and energy to focus on my passions – art and teaching. In my early sixties and filled with life experience, I recall my professors reminding us that art comes together easily as you get older. It’s so true. Over the past five years, the work has been effortless, joyful, and incredibly validating. Thanks to the work of my millennial-aged children, I have been able to display my portfolio on my own digital gallery and build an astounding following on social media. Something I could never imagine as a 20-something in the 80s trying to find my place in the intimidating Manhattan art scene.
Tom, who has taken on the role as my Manager, and I have made some beautiful connections and friendships in such a short amount of time, of which we are truly appreciative. I have been blessed to make the pilgrimage to an equestrian’s Mecca, The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, to partner and raise funds for two beautiful organizations – The Kentucky Equine Humane Center and The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. If that honor and fulfillment weren’t enough, the Horse Park is home to the towering and honorable statue of the racing legend Man O’ War, who was the subject of my very first attempt to draw a horse! I couldn’t figure out how to do the hooves and my early drawings all have 4 tufts of grass instead!
Currently, I split time between the East End of Long Island and coastal Maine. Every car ride to and from is filled with natural inspiration as I take in all of New England and New York’s vast beauty. Along with building my portfolio, one of the greatest pleasures in my life is to donate my time and talent for the promotion of horsemanship, equine rescue, and therapeutic riding programs.
Please tell us about your art.
My work encompasses everything I love. I call it “Individualism” and do not let art history intimidate me into fitting in with movements of the past. With strong conviction, I believe artists should create what uniquely inspires them. You must love your subject matter because you will be spending a great deal of time working on your piece.
Primarily, my work consists of drawings, paintings, and sculptures of horses and landscapes. The message behind my work is simple: the world is filled with incredible natural beauty and we should appreciate it more. While it is both a blessing and a curse, advancements in technology and an adopted hurried lifestyle have led to people spending less time outdoors. They do not see what is all around us. Hopefully, people take away a sense of peace, appreciation, and a feeling of wellbeing.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Artists are well aware of that glazed-over-eye look you receive when telling people what you do. I have found that most do not understand art, don’t know many artists, and do not know how to talk about art. To keep sane and foster personal growth, it is incredibly important to join art guilds, take lessons, and to proactively cultivate friendships with other creative people. While I am a recluse by nature, some of my greatest and most valuable memories stem from taking a much-needed break from a project to meet a fellow artist for lunch or, more times than not, a meal at 1a.m. at the diner!
For those who are working towards art school applications, please do not feel the pressure to take on unbearable student loan debt to attend the most prestigious schools. I was lucky enough to grow up during a time where a waitressing gig could put someone through a renowned art school at a state university such as New Paltz. As I compare my experience to my friends’ who went to highly reputable art schools, I can tell you it was the same. As long as you make a conscious effort to learn and grow, your talent and work will speak for itself!
Additionally, do not be afraid to display your work. When I was a young and insecure artist in my early 20’s, my sister Mary stole my slides and put them in front of gallery owners without my knowledge! She knew I didn’t have the nerve at the time. I had allowed mean, pretentious, and judgmental gallery receptionists scare me from applying for shows. Do not let ANYONE derail you. Confidence comes with feedback, sales, and the time needed to cultivate your work. Try not to “act the part” of an artist and put that energy into doing the work! There will come a day when you can confidently say and feel that “I am an artist.” Work hard creating what you love and showing your work and you will experience this profound moment.
Lastly, it also helps to have a GREAT manager in your corner. They will help with the daunting tasks of promotion, pricing, partnerships, and MOST IMPORTANTLY keeping you on schedule!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
All of my pieces, sketches, and crafts can be found at my digital gallery- www.jypfineart.com. To keep up with me daily, be sure to follow @joanneypiercefineart on Instagram, @jypfineart on Twitter, and visit www.facebook.com/JYPFineart. Year-round, I take on select piece commissions and Holiday ornament orders. For those interested, feel free to email mail@jypfineart.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jypfineart.com
- Email: mail@jypfineart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanneypiercefineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JYPFineArt/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JYPFineArt
Image Credit:
Joanne Y. Pierce
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