About Joanne Stowell

Joanne Stowell is a professional artist, mother, dog lover, and small-scale farmer from Central MA. Her paintings are inspired by her daily life and every piece tells a story. Although primarily an oil painter, Joanne also has experience with drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking and installation art. Joanne has an MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley University College of Art and Design and she has had artwork in numerous exhibitions nationwide. 

 To put it simply, my work is about reality. It’s my reality, but I show it with the hope that it is relatable to a much larger audience. With social media and the overall fast face of our lives it becomes easy for us to forget what is real. My artwork depicts my day-to-day, my life as a mother and a human being. I capture the struggles as well as the quiet moments that often go unappreciated. Every piece tells a story.

My work ranges from scenes of daily life and intimate moments to larger works celebrating the strength of mothers through their post-partum stretchmarks. Although my work is never glamorized, I do create in a way that makes the viewer want to look, usually through my use of lighting. My paintings are primarily done in oil and vary in size from small scenes to large pieces full of emotion. I paint in a style which I consider contemporary simplified realism, which seems appropriate. I use black outlining throughout my paintings as I have always been drawn to the boldness of the black paint and feel that the use of outlining pulls my work closer to illustration and storytelling.

Overall, my desire for my work is that it is relatable. I want my paintings to start conversations and create connections through speaking honestly about that which we do not often talk about. I hope that someone will look at my work and feel seen. It is a true representation of life – it can be simple or chaotic and messy and that is okay – that is real.