“Much of learning to be an artist is learning how to see.” This is something Christine Joy has discovered time and time again in her painting journey. When good weather allows, her study paintings are created from life–en plein air. Christine has enjoyed painting in many of the National Parks as well as several countries across the globe. Painting en plein air has its challenges–the changing light and weather in a landscape, or the peculiar nature of flowers (they keep moving to face the light, even after they are picked!) These challenges are what makes painting outdoors exciting to her. 

Christine Joy paints alla prima with her favored medium of oils, but she also enjoys watercolor and gouache. She is particularly drawn to the effects of light and color within nature, pushing her paints as far as they will go. 

During the many hours of illness she endured as a child and young adult, Christine Joy learned to paint. Her grandmother, Norma Peterson, was her first art teacher and greatest encouragement. Norma was her living example of making beauty in the middle of pain and hardship. For many years they painted side by side, and eventually art became Christine’s full time work and passion. After receiving a degree in fine art from George Fox in 2014, she continued her learning by studying under other master oil painters across America. Christine teaches painting classes at the Chehalem Cultural Center in the beautiful wine country of Oregon, and she now enjoys watching others begin their own journey of learning, creating, and seeing.

For more information or to purchase work please call 406-721-3154