Joan Clark
Artist – Author – Tutor
From a very young age I have loved doodling, sketching, painting or creating. I was encouraged to follow my dreams in art and had a very happy childhood mucking around in Picton with boats and the water.
My passion is to paint and I am living my dream. My biggest achievements in life however are my two beautiful children and their families who inspire me every day and who I am very proud of.
Peter and I have been married for 46 years and for the first 20 years we owned an orchard in Gisborne and I had my own art gallery. I was well known for my art in Gisborne and exhibited regularly. As well as exhibiting overseas my last exhibition was held at the Gisborne Museum and Art Gallery where I had 70 works on display. 58 were sold on opening night and 20 commissions to follow.
We moved back to Marlborough in 2000 and we built a house overlooking vineyards and mountains. With the waterways of the sounds nearby and with all these ever changing scenes, it will keep me painting forever. Most of my siblings live in Marlborough and they are some of my biggest fans and are very supportive.
My portfolio includes seascapes, landscapes, buildings and florals. Although watercolours are the centre of my work, acrylics are bright and fun and give me the freedom to paint much larger works.
It is very satisfying that people love my work and to be told that they could live with any of them is a thrill. Selling my work is easy, parting with them is much harder but as my husband tells me. Joan McClauchlan visited an exhibition and said, “I can see the joy in every one of your paintings.” What a thrill for me to hear that.
This year I am excited to be launching my second book. "He will not fail to win your heart - John Hoani MacDonald."
Thank you for taking the time to read about me. Feel free to contact me if you would like more information about my work or visit my website. Alternatively you are welcome to contact me direct to arrange a studio visit.
When you love what you have, you have everything you need.
