Jo Ellen Byrnes – Plein Air Poet

“I believe that everyone deserves to own and enjoy an original work of art, so I create original paintings at affordable prices.”

INSPIRATIONS

Plein Air
 Inspired by the large format, textural art of Michael Flaherty of Brandon, Ireland; the delicate touch learned while painting with Ken Auster of Laguna Beach; the structural nature of boats with Debra Huse of Balboa Island; and the incredible vision of sunlight and eucalyptus trees painted with Elizabeth Tolley of Morro Bay. The coastline of Laguna is my greatest inspiration to create sculptured oil paintings in the “open air” style.

Mandalas
Painted with mandala (Sanskrit for circle) master Paul Heussenstamm preparing for his Agape Sanctuary installation as well as mandala paintings that are selling at Deepak Chopra’s retreats.

Garden Murals
 “From plain stucco to plein air.” Transformational garden murals: Walls Become Works of Art, featured March 2007 in Laguna Coastline Pilot Newspaper.

Poetry
 Ireland adventure with “essential” poet David Whyte, walking the ancient hillsides exploring the natural beauty of the Burren with David and John O’Donohue.

Vision
 Everything starts with a vision. My paintings reflect the inspirational beauty of Laguna Beach.

Materials
 Gold-leafing adds a unique reflective quality and glow, balancing the textural qualities of the sculpted oil paints.

HISTORY
 Sawdust Art studio offering workshops to “experience” color.
 Docent at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.
 Laguna Beach - Mural artist featured in The Coastline Pilot, lagunagardenmurals.com.
 Temecula - Sculpted bonsai & topiary for landscape designs
 Thousand Oaks - Awarded 1st place for clay jewelry, porcelain dolls at Conejo Valley Days.
 Malibu - Malibu Art Festival’s “Best pottery display”.
 Encinitas - Designer featured in The Coast News paradisecreationdesigns.com.
 San Diego University for Integrative Studies – Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanistic Psychology & Expressive Art Therapy.
 #1 son just graduated from US Air Force Academy.
 #2 son is a musician & theatre lighting/sound designer for Disney on Ice.