Joe Oakes
Joe A. Oakes was a curious and observant child who started drawing at the age of five. He has been painting full time since 2008 after previously working as a substitute teacher, art consultant and graphic designer. After surviving cancer and the loss of a child, Joe courageously used these life changing events to propel him forward as an artist. His landscapes burn with the excitement of bold, bright color and draw on scenes from all over the U.S. but especially the Southwest and the state of California. Oakes’ work offers a new perspective on color and place while offering a meditative sense of calm, happiness and reverence for the land. “My landscapes are about the joy of nature. I paint with colors that evoke feelings of the first brilliant seconds of sunrise and the last fiery moments of sunset. Expressing those feelings through the use of bold, vibrant highlights and shadows of violet hues is my signature. I paint tributes to the mountains, fields and trees in the hopes it will slow us down long enough to appreciate them. Every painting is a challenge to examine the colors of our world and reconnect with nature.”