Joanne Killian is a native of Atlantic City, NJ. As an adult, life took her in many directions. For 12 years she crisscrossed the surrounding states before coming home to her beloved Jersey Shore. She has resided for 30 years in Margate City N.J. with her husband Patrick. Joanne, worked as a successful real estate broker associate for 25 years, all the while dabbling in her love of art.
Her inspiration for painting came from her garden. Her first love was gardening and through that the two were complimentary hobbies. She began painting beautiful flower pots and table linens. At the urging of her children and grandchildren and those who saw her creations, she began to take her artwork seriously. Up to that point she had been strictly self taught.
Three years ago she began her training in earnest taking classes in oil painting from renowned artist Wanda Kline, and watercolor classes from artist Sue Rau. Joanne shows her work at the Ocean City Fine Arts League. Her art work has also been exhibited at the Hammonton Arts Center.
Joanne, in the spring of 2010, won two awards. At the Atlantic City Art Show, Women in the Arts for Atlantic County, Joanne won the Judge's Award for "Summer Rain". She also won 1st Place at the National Arts Show for her oil painting, "Tuscany".