... I am a retired professor of art from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina where I taught painting, drawing and design for twenty years. My studio education began with a BA in Painting and Drawing from Georgia State University in Atlanta and continued with a BS in Art Education and an MFA in Painting from Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

... I now make my home permanently in Fernandina Beach, Florida. The mild winters and rich natural ecology of the sea, the marshes and hammocks all invoke strong feelings and inspire my imagination.
Of special interest to me are the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, Big and Little Talbot Islands and Fort Clinch. These natural environments provide inspiration for my work: the light reflections on water, the patterns of foliage and the interplay of visual elements, always changing and yet relating to one another. My interpretation of nature is facilitated by the fluidity of the painting medium, the application of the principles of composition and using color as a vehicle of emotion. Although the resulting paintings may be abstracted, they generally allude to landscape and the forces of nature.

... I am also influenced by our cultural heritage, including the narratives and myths that explain our values and aspirations. The writings of psychologist Carl Jung and of Joseph Campbell, one of his followers, address both the psychology of imagery and the energy of the archetypes that transverse many cultures and timeframes. The theme of water has fueled several series of my artworks, such as “Narcissus and Echo”, and another series “the Appalachian Clean Water Initiative” that was exhibited in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C.

... My artworks have been shown in numerous juried and invitational venues such as the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, the Center of Contemporary Art in Richmond, the Bryan Center of Duke University, the Asheville Museum and Women Artists of North Carolina. Earlier in my career I was a studio artist exhibiting in Atlanta for twenty years. My work is included in many corporate and private collections.

Joan Smyly Durden