Joan Goodyear
Joan was a quiet woman whose art reflected her love for her family, especially her mother & father.
She identified heavily with Jane Sallis (Co-Founder of Artists First) and often expressed her respect and ‘love’ for her. At times, this made working with Joan somewhat problematic. ‘Is that what Jane wants?’ became a regular response to many requests and suggestions.
Joan’s highly graphic style with heavy use of black line meant Joan’s work always ‘stood out’. Her distinct flowers and figures were often placed in linear compositions of striking complexity.
She was also a member of both the Greystoke and Rushland Poets and as a result the titles of her paintings often had a poetic quality for example “My Father in a Grave Box Growing with Flowers all around”. All her work was narrative in nature.
Unfortunately, like many people with Downs Syndrome, Joan started suffering from Dementia at an early age. This eventually meant her attendance and creative output reduced until her condition sadly prevented her from being an active member of the group.
Selected exhibition history:
- 2001 Strength to Strength Spike Island Bristol
- 2003 Artists First Residency Tate Liverpool
- 2003 This River Winding
- 2004 Into the Light: Thelma Hulbert Gallery Honiton
