Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts - Philadelphia, PA
Mostly happy. Weaving the moving particles of time. Memories and happenings and still looking ahead.
All my art is from my life, I think it's a big book of colors with places, people, experiences I've lived. The paintings and sculptures on this site are recent. I will be adding a retrospective. I found out I could draw at 23; 14 years later when I was pregnant with my fifth child at 37, started watercolor classes, tons, started in a humble school in Moorestown, NJ Perkins Center for the Arts studying with Valerie Smith Pope, then she took her class to a workshop with Judi Betts about 2 years after I started. You know I always say, when I walked into my first class with Valerie I hit my hand on the table and said "I WILL NOT BE A FANATIC." Well you know where that got me. I got hooked on art. When I had my sixth child at 44, I brought my sketch book into the delivery room. I was also teaching in the Poconos, to a delightful class for the Older Adult Learning Center, sharing everything I know about the California School of Watercolor Although I was successful at the Jersey Shore and South Jersey entering shows and having a few one-man shows it was in 2008, my passion took me to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia where I took every class I think there was. Then, I entered the Academy 4 year certificate program at 60. Graduating in December of 2017, walking in 2018. Had 2 museum shows. And I have graduated with my MFA degree from my alma mater at PAFA in May 2025.
I have a whimsical magical children's book I have published: THE BAGEL TREE BY JOANN CERVANTES. You can buy my book on Amazon.
Art is very autobiographical. I also have a pile of whimsical crazy poems. A Survivors Guide to Happiness.