About Me ~

I was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. I grew up in the John Hayes Homes, a housing project. I am the oldest child of four children born into a second-generation immigrant family of limited education.

My family never saw education as a valuable commodity. I almost flunked out of high school. If it wasn’t for a counselor who encouraged me to hang in there, I would have quit.

I started painting classes back in 1967 using oil paints. I took some art classes at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in 1970 focusing on painting and figure drawing.

I went to college while children were in school part-time at Richland College majoring in Art. Transferred to University of North Texas, Denton, TX. Mainly, I went back to college to get in touch with who I am. I found out that I not only had a talent for art but a strong love to help people. I entered a special program at UNT focused in Counseling Associates Program. I graduated at 45.

Once I was told that the hardest medium to paint was watercolors. It was mentioned that if I could paint watercolors, then I could paint with any medium. That statement became a challenge, so I focused on learning how to watercolor. I have worked in that arena since. I exhibited in the Huffines Art Trails Show.

Photography is a love of mine, too. I work in both color and black and white. Exhibited my photos in Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Photography Contest & Exhibit and Richland Photo Exhibit.

I taught art classes for Youth Believing in Change in Dallas. I have had the opportunity to use my art with clients in dealing with life issues. Conducted workshops for people learning to get in touch with their creative side. In addition, I have taught for the City of Richardson Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers, Senior Citizens Center, as well as, Hobby Lobby locations in Plano, Allen and Garland, TX.

I teach private and group lessons, as well as, give workshops in watercolor, oil, acrylics and drawing. I have taught additional classes at my studio and at Hobby Lobby in the summer for children.

For five years I went on Mission Trips to Serbia with Fellowship Bible Church @ Arapaho, where I normally taught art classes for a week, as an outreach for the local church. The sixth year I went to Serbia, where I got a chance to serve with the Joni and Friends organization ministering to families with disabled children. It was a joy to see how God could work through me to love and bless these families as they attended a week retreat from their daily lives to hear God's word. We were able to give the parents much needed rest and relaxation as we loved and cared for their children with special needs.

At the 2009 Richardson Civic Art Society Membership Show, I received the Merchants Award for the painting "Fall Silence".

I exhibiting in the Fredericksburg Art Guild Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX.

I have volunteered with a program called New Friends New Life www.newfriendsnewlife.org in Dallas, where therapist and I did art therapy. It has been a great joy to love on these women who are looking at starting over with a new life for themselves and their families.

Sept. 2012 to May of 2015 completed and graduated from HeartPaths in their Spiritual Direction Program in Richardson, TX as Spiritual Director.

~ Joanna Clifton, Artist, Teacher & Spiritual Director