Joan C. S. Dalto


 
 
 
 
Artist's Statement
  
 

I have always made art.
As I have gone through life I have used whatever materials were in front of me at the time. As a child and young adult,
I used the traditional artist materials and media. But then, my love of science and discovery removed me from the traditional artists path.

 
 

    
I started my design career with plants, trees, flowers, rocks and stones. Later I went on to study graphic design and illustration. I moved on to web design.
 
 


Now finally, I am back to the traditional artist media. This includes pencil, charcoal, ink, pastel, oil paint, and watercolor.
My subjects are diverse. Most of my work is still life, Trompe l'oeil (fool the eye), botanical art, portraiture and figures.

                         
  
 

My favorite artistic element is space, or the use, of the space that you have. Both the positive and negative space is important in my work.

I love to go right up to the edges of the picture plane.

 
 

 
 
I prefer to study and teach realism. The old and new masters understand that a solid set of drawing and seeing skills is the foundation to great art, regardless of the media or style that is chosen.
 
 
 
 
My favorite artists are Sargent, Degas, Matisse, and Picasso. Soon to be on my favorites list is Anders Zorn,
and living artists, Ned Jacob and John Kilroy.
 
 

My favorite sign that is hanging in John Kilroy's Studio reads:

We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence then is not an act. But a habit.

 
 
Always keep making Art and studying Art.