ARTWORKS
By Sally Yoder
Meet The Artist: Joyce Owens
H
Honoring the artistic
gift she’s been
blessed with is important
A graduate of
Zephyrhills High and
current President of the
Zephyrhills Art Club,
Joyce encourages the
club’s members to use
their talents to “give
Joyce Owens, Zephyrhills Art Club
back”. From cigar box
painting for nursing
home residents, illustrating a community cookbook, to inspirational
paintings for a Christian Men’s retreat, Joyce comes up with new
ways for artists to contribute to our community.
“Just recently I helped with painting a mural at the Zephyrhills
Elks Lodge. It was a great feeling, working with others to create
something lasting and beautiful.” Joyce is primarily focused on
building the Zephyrhills Art Club. “ZAC is very much a seasonal activity,
October through April.” She is working to get the high school
involved, and would appreciate having “more local businesses to
display our art work”.
and to provide for the promotional and educational needs of artists.”
-
nual art show during the month of March which is our big event”.
Throughout her life of service, Joyce has painted her experiences.
As an active/soldier in the US Army for 26 years, (see her painting,
“My Army Companions”) Joyce moved often and found too
little time to paint. Once she retired, Joyce supplemented her college
level art classes with workshops. “I’ve gotten advice from some of
the best artists in the area”, she says. Some of her favorite local artists
are Gainor Roberts, Taylor Ikin, and Saralee Thompson, who passed
away last year.
“I don’t worry about people not liking my paintings. I just keep
painting!” Joyce prefers oil and acrylic paints, because, “…just the
smell of it and the feel…how they move on the surface...” she says
reverently.
Joyce relishes the diversity offered by doing commissioned
works. Each new commission is a fresh and exciting challenge. “I
would love to do more murals, and will be doing one soon in a
church nursery”. She’d also like to attempt more large scale works
and portraits of famous folks.
Although she’s loathe to brag, Joyce has won her share of awards
from the State Fair, County Fair, and the Strawberry Festival. Her
Zephyrhills Art Club Annual Show. “It was such a surprise!” Joyce’s
bold graphic designs and pure colors garner attention. Her subject
matter is most always whimsical and uplifting.
Viewers of Joyce’s work are usually smiling.
“I create to make people happy”, Joyce says. And, although she
agrees winning is great, Joyce considers the 8 x 11’ mural she painted
with her daughter at an orphanage in Honduras to be the seminal
did it in 33 hours”, she said. “It was so meaningful to do God’s work
with my daughter”.
newsletter on Facebook.
1st row: My Army Companions
Plein Air
2nd row: Honduras
3rd row: Men in Kilts,
Alaska
4th row: Day at the Beach
Rockin’ in the USA
5th row: Miss Liberty
813.682.9364
to Joyce Owens.
28 • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE