About Joanne Stowell

Joanne Stowell is a professional artist and art instructor from Central Massachusetts. A mother, dog lover, and small-scale farmer, her contemporary realistic oil paintings are deeply inspired by her daily life and every piece tells a story. While oil painting is her primary medium, she also has experience in drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and installation art. Joanne has an MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley University College of Art and Design and has exhibited her work in numerous exhibitions nationwide. She currently serves as President of the Massachusetts Women’s Caucus for Art.

Beautiful Mundanity Series

Stories are what remain after an event has passed. Our lives are shaped by countless moments or events - some large, many small - and each one leaves behind a story. My artwork captures my own story, my daily life as a mother and a human being. I desire to show the beauty in the moments that we often pay so little attention to - the small events that make up most of our lives. While the scenes I paint are based on my own life, I do believe that each painting is relatable to a much larger audience. And every painting tells a story.

Although my work is never glamorized, I create in a way that makes the viewer want to look, usually through my use of lighting. I enjoy the play of light and dark that is present in most of my work. I paint exclusively in oil and work in a style which I describe as contemporary simplified realism. The black outlining that I use throughout my paintings helps to pull my work closer to illustration and storytelling. 

Ultimately, my goal is to create work that brings people together through shared experiences. I want my paintings to start conversations and create connections. I hope viewers see themselves in the work and recognize life as it truly is: simple or chaotic, quiet or messy, and always worthy of attention. Even the smallest stories deserve to be told. 

Leftovers Series

What is now the Leftovers series simply began as a practical effort to waste less paint. It has since grown into an essential part of my painting practice. Each small abstract painting is created using only what remains on my palette at the end of the week, once the paint is no longer suitable for my larger realistic works. The wood panels themselves are also remnants. Working with these limited materials allows me to explore how constraint can act as a catalyst for creativity. This series continues to grow rapidly, all shaped by what is left behind.

Each of these paintings are made without a predetermined plan, allowing intuition to lead the process. They are pure explorations of color, line, space, and movement. Most of each piece is created using a palette knife, another deliberate constraint that helps with giving up control and emphasizes energy and color. A brush is introduced only at the end, when black lines are added in response to what the painting reveals. These lines echo the outlining found in my larger works, which then connects this abstract series to the representation series from which it began. Finally, once the piece is completed, it is given a one-word title which is suggestive of the overall mood of the finished painting.