Who is Joni Emily

Joni N Emily is an award winning artist whose work embodies the spirit of the great outdoors. Her paintings are rich with vibrant color and reveal a masterful ability to tell compelling stories through landscapes, animals, and the people drawn to wild places.

Joni’s artistic journey began early, fueled by a passion for drawing and painting that was nurtured by her art teacher, Jerry Rosenthal. Under his guidance, she received an extensive education in art history and technique, laying the foundation for her distinctive style and thoughtful approach to composition.

Growing up in Colorado, Joni was immersed in a wide range of outdoor pursuits including skiing, hiking, sprint triathlons, and horseback riding. These experiences deepened her connection to nature and ultimately led her to pursue plein air painting.

Her artwork embraces the outdoors in a deeply physical way, undeterred by rain, sleet, or snow. She is energized by working on site, hauling her painting gear to rocky stream beds, mountain summits, and the edges of remote overlooks. As an avid skier and competitor in sprint triathlons, she recognizes the powerful artistic opportunities found in dramatic landscapes and the people who seek to explore them.

Joni gladly straps on skis or hiking boots to paint alongside fellow artists outdoors, working in natural light through plein air painting. Constantly shifting sunlight presents a significant challenge and can tempt painters to rush in an effort to capture the scene. Instead, Joni emphasizes thoughtful design as the foundation for paintings that hold the viewer’s attention.

Her confident brushwork and painterly approach are inspired by artists such as John Singer Sargent, esteemed figurative painter Bruce Vanderwilt, and award winning plein air painter Greg LaRock. Her motivation is rooted in showcasing the beauty of nature and the strength living beings exhibit as they meet life’s challenges, telling compelling stories of nature, animals, and the people she has the pleasure to encounter.