 |
John Joy is one of Toronto's, if not Canada's, most recognizable painters.
A noted and well respected Plein Air painter, John's philosophy is; to be a true artist, one must experience the changes in atmosphere, temperature, color and mood of the outdoors, which describes, Plein Air.
His love of his work is unending, He has painted for over fifty years and has never laid down his brush, with the thought of not painting ... everyday.
His close friends are mostly painters and artists of all medium and it is a delight to listen to his stories of "the old days". He knew the best, amongst them Tom Roberts, Tom Chatfield and Franklin Arbuckle.
The row houses, cramped dwellings of Beverly, Markham, Augusta streets and Wales Ave., Kensington Market with the garages and backyards, all held fascination for John's imagination. and he soon became famous for his interesting little paintings of Toronto's heart of the city.
Born in Toronto 1925, John has painted all his life, and he credits his instructors, Peter Haworths and Doris McCarthy from Central Tech for their discipline and basic instruction in drawing. |
His first love remains watercolour. John is a Plein Air artists; one who paints outdoors to capture the mood and feel the moment, to embrace the changing of the sky and landscape. This method if the most challenging to paint, as the subject matters changes within minutes.
John recently returned from a trip to the Arctic where he, along with a small group of Plein Air artists, spent weeks under the captivating spell of the Arctic beauty. He did marvellous work, both watercolour and acrylic landscapes of the vastness surrounding him. This was John's second trip to the High Arctic. John has painted in every province in Canada, his favourite; Newfoundland where he has traveled fifteen times.
John is a continuing source of guidance and inspiration for future generations touring extensively, lending his skills, teaching art and exhibiting across the country.
John Joy has been marred to his bride Elsa for fifty eight years. He is a founding member of the Society of Canadian Artists, and active member of the Arts and Letters Club. |
