My day job at the moment is starting up a new online liquor business with my partner. We are located in Melbourne and supply and deliver to Businesses, Social Clubs and the Professions. I am the webmaster, administrator and only bottle washer!

I was born a U.S. Navy brat to an Aussie Mum. We (Mum, Dad and three sisters) travelled all over the world, coming to rest in Australia.

I decided to be an artist when I was five. I have combined my all my talents and skills to be creative and exhibit my inner thoughts, vision and express my feelings. I am always learning, experimenting and evolving in my artwork.

I enjoyed teaching or facillating art and craft events and have had quite a few good experiences there. I no longer enjoy good health so limitations are preventing me to return to this avenue.

I had a Studio for 5 years on High Street, Preston. There I developed and designed luxury fine finishes for decorating Ornate Plaster. I used the ArchiSpray method that I developed in Brisbane to create paintings as well as Finishes. "The Letter" was the first such painting I made in this manner.

In the past I have tried many materials alone and together. Pen and India Ink were my 1st favorites for landscape drawing. Slowly I learned water colouring and using oils, teaching myself for the most part. My first oil painting was made in Brisbane 1966 and I still have it!

Barney Muir of Manly N.S.W., mentored me with the water colours: he supplied me with all beautiful papers, French water colours and brushes that I could only dream of. We exhibited in Sydney quite a bit untill I was taken ill.

Cairns is where I ended up as the family had moved up there. My boys were only little and my family had to help us a lot for a long time. I painted in water colours (minimal to highlight the markings already present) on slices of ribbonstone. Then I used a mapping pen and India Ink to draw landscapes. An attachment on the back for hanging purposes was glued on. These were sold to tourists mostly at the markets of Port Douglas and Kuranda FNQ.

1985 - Brisbane was my next stop. I needed better medical attention and the boys needed educating and work opportunities I felt Cairns wouldn't offer them. In the end, Mum and one sister came to live in Brisbane, so it wasn't so lonely.

I got involved with art working with kids in crisis, the aged and disabled, medical staff and oncology patients. I was also involved with the security industry hoping for long term work. (Artists - if they get any work, it's usually short term or on contract and doesn't buy footy boots.)

1999 - The last seven years of my life have been here in Melbourne Victoria. I've had two studios and showrooms. Now I'm back to using the kitchen table, but that's okay! We suffered a few medical setbacks (read heart attacks)but are now back up and running.

I hope to meet a lot more artists - (two on my first day on this site!!) and others interested in art and the world we live in.

Cheers for now, Joni

Artist Highlights

• Lives In:    Australia
• ArtWanted.com Gallery:    Fine Art
• Proficient Software:   Corel 6
• Past Clients:    Private sales, Sydney, Melbourne,Port Douglas and Townsville