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Family influence drove Artist of the Month to start painting

It was a family connection that got local artist Joanne Emery interested in painting and led her on a life-long journey through the art world. “It ran in the family,” she said. “I had an uncle who painted and I got into it because I really liked it.

It was a family connection that got local artist Joanne Emery interested in painting and led her on a life-long journey through the art world.

“It ran in the family,” she said. “I had an uncle who painted and I got into it because I really liked it.”

When she was 14, Emery said she joined the Barrhead Art Club. Since that time, she has kept painting while learning more about her craft.

In her early days with the club, she said she was instructed by Margaret Nadeau.

“Margaret was really good at trying to get you to have your own style,” Emery said.

Whereas other instructors would be “heavy handed” and try to influence the artist’s style, she said Nadeau preferred to let the artist develop a personal style that would set him or her apart from the others.

As she was learning her craft, Emery said there would be instructors who came up from the city to provide workshops. In some cases, these workshops would involve camping trips into the mountains, she said.

These trips suited her well, she said, since she likes to be outdoors and enjoys painting landscapes.

“I do mostly landscapes,” she said. “I like to be on location outside and paint horses, cows and other animals. I have a farm and so I paint what I see there.”

Emery also said she doesn’t have one specific thing that she likes to paint.

“It depends on what turns me on at the moment,” she said, adding that it’s always easier to paint something that actually interests her.

“If you like the thing you’re going to do, it usually turns out well,” she said. “It’s really hard to paint something you’re not thrilled about.”

Throughout her close to 37 years of painting, she said she has primarily painted for herself. However, she has sold some of her work or done some pieces on commission.

She said she prefers to paint for herself because it’s easier to paint what she likes and have someone like it and want to buy it.

When doing commissioned work, she said it’s harder because she’s always thinking about what the person wants compared to her style. That being said, she did say that usually the people who commission her know her style and have an idea of what to expect.

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