I have always had the desire to preserve and enhance through art that which visually intrigues or pleases me. For me, painting is the only way to really see anything, and it only happens in stages. The rest of the world disappears while the colors become more vivid or more subtle and new mixtures of color burst through my eyes almost directly to my hand and thus change my working surface from flat to three dimensional. Somewhere during this process the emotion and charactor of the subject matter appears in the work without my conscious intent.
Joy Descoteaux, a New Hampshire native, was creating art in the realist tradition even before 1979 when she began her studies in oil portrait painting with Richard Whitney, an internationally recognized painter of traditional portraits and landscapes. In 1991 she became interested in soft pastels and has since divided her time between the two mediums, creating landscapes, still lifes and figurative work. She has taught art in public schools and in private lessons. She moved to Eugene, Oregon in 2002 in search of adventure and new vistas to paint. For many years Joy's last name was Haddock and you will find that name on many of her works.
Joy was the Superintendent of Adult Art in the Lane County Fair in Eugene, Oregon in 2003 and 2004 and was one of two judges for the two dimensional work from 2005 to 2010.
EDUCATIONN:
Keene State College, Keene, NH B.Ed, 1967
Oil painting with Richard Whitney, Crescent Pond Studios, Stoddard, NH 1979-1981
Color Theory with Russ Russell, Antrim, NH 1993-1994
My thanks to all my artist friends for their help throughout the years.
COLLECTIONS:
John and Joyce Schlichting, NH David and Pat Yardley, England
Charlie and Shirley Hooker, Australia Bruce and Liz Bruen, NY
Perry Passarotti, NJ Carole and John Fredricks, FL
Universal Packaging Corporation, NH William Gault, CT
Whaling City Software, MA Stephanie and Kevin Kenan, OR
Marc and Tina Schnapper, OR Cheshire Medical Center, NH
Dr. and Mrs. Frank Abbate, NH Anne and Sue Springenberg, OR
AWARDS, HONORS, JURIED SHOWS 1995-2010
2010 The Living River, Jacob's Gallery, Eugene, OR
2010, 2008, 2004, Eugene Mayor's Art Show, Jacob's Gallery, Eugene, OR
2008 Featured in the art book, "Artists of the West"
2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, Expressions West, Coos Bay Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR
2010 Hundred Valley Show, Roseburg, OR
2008, 2006, "International Juried Art Show", Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR; Expressions West, Coos Bay Museum, Coos Bay, OR
2004 "People's Choice Award", Celebrate Arts, Florence, OR (I was astounded to learn that all three of my entries received more votes than any other art in the exhibit);
2004 "First Place" Pastel Portrait, "Second Place" Pastel Landscape, Mayor's Art Show, Springfield, OR; "La Petite Exhibit", Alder Gallery, Coburg, OR
2003 "First Place" Oil Still Life, "Second Place" Pastel Portrait, "Fred Simmons Award", Mayor's Art Show, Springfield, OR
2002 "Third Place" Annual Juried Exhibit, Keene Art Association, Keene, NH
2001 "Honorable Mention" Annual Juried Exhibit, Keene Art Association, Keene, NH
2001, 1998, 1997, 1996 Annual National Realist Exhibition of the Academic Artists Assoc., Springfield, MA
1999, 1998 One Woman Shows, Glastonbury, CT
1997, 1995 Annual Juried Exhibition for Women Realist Artists, The Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, Inc., Broadway, NYC
1996 "Honorable Mention" Juried Figure Exhibit, Keene Art Association, Keene, NH
1995, 1993 "Best In Show" Annual Outdoor Art Festival, Keene, NH
1995 "First Place Realism" 22nd Annual Sidewalk Art Show, Ogunquit, ME
1995, 1994 "Lion's Award"; 1993 "Third Place" Annual Juried Exhibit, Keene Art Association, Keene, NH
