Joy S. Olney

About me

I was born in Bordeaux, France. My family returned to Philadelphia in the early 1950's when my father retired from the diplomatic service. I was surrounded by European and Asian art in my home and enjoyed visits to museums in the area. I attended Tyler College of Art while still in high school. I was fortunate to have excellent instructors and filled many sketch pads. While only sixteen, a friend's brother went about being my agent and went about selling my drawings and painting to his parent's friends. With the money I made, I went alone to France and Spain to see the great museums there. Upon my return I became a full time student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. While there parents offered me money for the portraits I did of my fellow students. Immediately after art school I had a one person show in New York City. I continued to show and win prizes in New York and Philadelphia as well as teaching art and painting portraits. In addition to creating individual pieces, I designed and executed theatre stage sets for eight years.

The world around me and the people in it inspire me. The artist whose work I most admire is John Singer Sargent. I am fortunate to be doing what I love and to be painting every day. I am a very prolific painter, comfortable in all media and all types of subject matter. Painting ideas pour out of me. If I see a beautiful sight before me, I stop and take a photograph. It could be someone planting a garden, a couple walking, a sun setting, or a reflection. I later paint from the photo, remembering the moment.

I am very happily married to my husband, TJ, for over thirty years. He is a professor at Western Washington University. He has always encouraged my art as well as been my most honest critic. We have two creative sons. Painting in my home has been important to me. When my sons were living at home, I was there for them or their friends when I was needed. Fun for me is being with friends and family. Since a visual artist is isolated, I have balanced that by doing volunteer work wherever I have lived for thirty-five years. I also paint and draw with other artist friends as well as share in supportive constructive critique groups. Dance is an activity I loved doing before I had children. Now, any sport I can do that slightly resembles dance brings me joy. This may be why I've enjoyed painting dancers.

Being one of the artists in the Whatcom Artist Studio tour for the last three years, I've opened my home to show what I paint, where I paint and how I paint. Having lived in Bellingham for twenty years, I've shown at many of the local galleries as well as Bellevue, Edmonds, and in 2004 won best in show at the Anacortes Art at the Port show. My goal is to keep painting and hopefully bring joy to others through my art work.