Joann M. Douk

My Story

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area I grew up in a small town called Livermore and began sketching cartoon caricatures to amuse my family and friends.  My parents would submit my drawings to art contests found in the local newspaper, but in those days there were no art academies accepting an 8 year old with visible talent.  My art teachers in school continued to expose me to different art mediums and I became curious about one painter in particular: Leonardo da Vinci. I spent hours at the school library perusing volumes of his works. The mysterious Mona Lisa has always been one of my favorites. 

My love for photography grew throughout the years and most of my paintings are inspired by moments seen through the camera lens, thanks to my father. He was always memorializing our yearly vacations as our family visited National Parks of the West.  Because of him, I'm grateful for my continued wonder lust for travel and exposure to the beauty of our natural surroundings. 

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My adventures and travels have taken me from California to Florida, Paris and Amsterdam, Florence and Tel-Aviv and many places in-between. But my favorite place to be is any beach on any island or continent at sunrise or sunset.  The colors are always moving and the feeling of peace always lingers.

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In 2017 my adventurous spirit brought me to the Ojai Valley and thanks to continued support I began to pursue my passion for painting. The exposure to incredible artists in that area and the opportunity to learn from that amazing talent was priceless.  My love for breath taking photography and endless hours exploring this blue marble we live on continues to fuel my passion for the artwork I create.  I hope that you enjoy my journey as I attempt to capture those peaceful moments with my original creations of "art from the heart."