“My work consistently radiates a sense of atmospheric tranquility and gentle joy.”

Artist Joanie Ford paints impressionist landscapes and nature scenes in oil and pastel. She first learned to paint as a teenager from her father, who showed her how to color photographs by hand. In her twenties, she built a career in portrait photography. Years spent behind the camera taught Joanie to see subtle details and fleeting moments, while painting allows her to translate those discoveries into color and form. She works from a small home studio in Florida, preferring to paint in silence. When not making art, Joanie spends her time observing people, animals, and the subtle rhythms of daily life.

In this interview, Joanie shares her process and journey as an artist.

What’s your home life like? 

I live in Ocala, Florida, with my husband and our cat, Bella. I’m a retired photography studio owner and truly appreciate the sunny atmosphere Florida brings. My home life is peaceful and relaxed.

I wake at 4:00 each morning to study. My art study includes reading about artists, watching art demonstrations, sketching compositions, and using my iPad and Procreate to design paintings. At 6:30 each day, I go for a two-mile walk. When I return, my husband is up, and we enjoy chatting about the day ahead. After he leaves for his activities, I head into the studio.

What are your special interests?

Besides art, I have a deep reverence for life. I focus on self-discovery, inner growth, and personal transformation, and meditation is part of my daily practice. I also enjoy preparing healthy meals and sharing them with others.

What are you most proud of—whether in art or another part of your life?

I’m proud of my continuing commitment to educating myself in both painting and spirituality. One of my greatest joys is encouraging others to discover their own creative spark, and I always welcome questions about life and art.

Do you have any studio rituals that help you get into a creative flow?

My early mornings naturally bring me into a creative mindset. When I enter the studio, I begin by putting things away if I left them out the day before. I don’t like to live or paint in a mess. I always clean up the area of a painting before starting again.

Before painting, I prepare my reference materials, think through the color story or palette, and contemplate how I will approach the painting.

How do you structure your day?

My studio time is in the morning. I usually begin painting around 9 a.m. and work until about 11 a.m., when I take a break to prepare a meal.

In the afternoon, I recheck email, post on social media, rest, meditate, frame artwork, and organize exhibits. I typically work until about 4 p.m., when I return to the kitchen to prepare dinner.  Evenings are spent reading, doing puzzles, and resting.

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

Inspiration is all around me in nature. My landscapes are drawn from scenes in my community or from photographs I take while traveling. I’m especially drawn to moments of stillness, gentleness, and quiet presence—whether the subject is a tree, a flower, or a human being.

Tell us about your evolution as an artist.

I have always been captivated by the creative process and the beauty of nature. At sixteen, I began working with oils, painting a wide variety of subjects. My love for portraiture developed later in my portrait studio, where I enjoyed creating and enhancing photographic images. Portrait painting became a way for me to capture the essence, emotion, and individuality of my subjects.

Throughout my career, I competed in national and state competitions with the Professional Photographers of America and the Minnesota Professional Photographers Association, earning recognition as a photographer, artist, and retoucher. I hold the Accredited Artist, Accredited Photographer, and Accredited Retoucher degrees. In 2003, I became the first person to receive all three national degrees—Master Artist, Master Photographer, and Photographic Craftsman—simultaneously.

I have also served as president of several professional organizations and, in 2015, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Professional Photographers Association.

After moving to Ocala in 2016, I joined several local art organizations and served on the boards of the Pastel Society of Central Florida and the Ocala Art Group. In recent years, I have stepped away from service work to focus more fully on my own art and gallery exhibitions.

How do you decide when an artwork is finished?

As a painting progresses, I watch for the changes that need to be made—adjustments in shape, density, or color. As I near completion, I ask myself what the painting still needs. Is it telling the story I intended?

I often view the work upside down or reflected in a mirror. If nothing calls for further adjustment—and the painting feels quiet, as though it has finished speaking—then I know it is complete. I sign the work and set it aside for a period of time. If I am still satisfied later, I apply the varnish and photograph it.

What is the most interesting observation someone has made about your work?

I’ve been told that my work consistently radiates a sense of atmospheric tranquility and gentle joy. Viewers often remark that there is a meditative calm in the paintings and that the balanced compositions invite them into a peaceful, restorative space.

Is there an artwork from another artist that has had a significant impact on you?

Yes—Wild Poppies near Argenteuil by Claude Monet. I have always loved Monet’s work, and as part of a self-assignment, I created a master copy of that painting. Studying it closely deepened my understanding of color, light, and composition.

What’s your favorite museum?

My favorite museum is the Musée d’Orsay. It houses many of Monet’s works as well as pieces by other artists I admire and have studied. I visited Paris in October 2024 and had the joy of seeing Wild Poppies near Argenteuil in person. It was delightful.

Is there anything else you’d like to share to help viewers better understand your work?

My mission is to create art that captures the quiet beauty and vitality of nature, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the serenity that surrounds them. Through impressionistic oils and pastels, I strive to evoke a sense of peace and wonder, celebrating the delicate moments that make life extraordinary.

 These works reflect my artistic values: patient observation of life, devotion to technical excellence, and a heartfelt desire to share the beauty of the world with others. My hope is that my paintings encourage viewers to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the wonder in everyday surroundings.

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If you enjoyed this article about Joanie Ford's life and artwork, we recommend reading our interview with Kajal Zaveri and her abstract paintings.