ABOUT THE ARTIST
Joy Meyer was raised on a farm near Amboy, Illinois. In addition, she lived on another farm
near Amboy with her husband and their children for the first twenty years of their marriage
before moving to Dixon, Illinois. All of these years of experiencing nature first-hand and
having the time and space to really appreciate the wonderful rural landscapes and vast variety
of flowers and plants that God has created for us to enjoy have had a major influence on her
artwork. This love for nature has been the greatest source of inspiration, ideas and
subject matter for her artwork.
Joy earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art and Art Education from
Northern Illinois University. She retired in 2005 after teaching art for thirty years, the last
twenty years at Rock Falls High School in Rock Falls, Illinois. Developing curriculum for the
range of art classes that she taught and making examples to demonstrate media and processes frequently sparked
ideas for new approaches for her own artwork. The medium she has chosen to specialize in since 1994 is Silk
Painting. She says that what she enjoys most about silk painting is the versatility of applications for finished
paintings. The paintings can not only be matted and framed like watercolor paintings and other fine art, but they can
also be stretched on a frame as a room divider/screen; they can be made into beautiful pillows; or they can become
wearable and functional art. Every time someone rests on one of her silk pillows, or wears a silk scarf as a beautiful
accessory to an outfit, they are experiencing her art, instead of simply looking at it.
The vibrant colors that can be achieved with silk dyes are what first attracted Joy to silk painting. The techniques that
are unique to the medium help achieve effects that cannot be accomplished in any other medium. The vibrant colors
and the techniques together, along with the natural silk fibers seem especially well suited for creating artwork of
nature subjects. While she finds silk painting to be very challenging and often frustrating, it is also very rewarding.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts - Northern Illinois University, 1976; Culminating in a One-Woman Show in Weaving
Bachelor of Science in Education – Northern Illinois University, 1971
Additional classes completed beyond Master’s Degree - Savannah College of Art and Design, Chapman University,
Rockford College, Drake University, Lewis University
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Phidian Art Club - 2007 - Present
American Craft Council - 2007
The Next Picture Show Fine Arts Center - 2006 - Present
Surface Design Association - 2006 - 2007
Haymarket Guild of Artists, 1990 – 2006; Treasurer 1996 – 2000
Illinois Art Education Association -1985 – 2006
Joy Meyer was raised on a farm near Amboy, Illinois. In addition, she lived on another farm
near Amboy with her husband and their children for the first twenty years of their marriage
before moving to Dixon, Illinois. All of these years of experiencing nature first-hand and
having the time and space to really appreciate the wonderful rural landscapes and vast variety
of flowers and plants that God has created for us to enjoy have had a major influence on her
artwork. This love for nature has been the greatest source of inspiration, ideas and
subject matter for her artwork.
Joy earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art and Art Education from
Northern Illinois University. She retired in 2005 after teaching art for thirty years, the last
twenty years at Rock Falls High School in Rock Falls, Illinois. Developing curriculum for the
range of art classes that she taught and making examples to demonstrate media and processes frequently sparked
ideas for new approaches for her own artwork. The medium she has chosen to specialize in since 1994 is Silk
Painting. She says that what she enjoys most about silk painting is the versatility of applications for finished
paintings. The paintings can not only be matted and framed like watercolor paintings and other fine art, but they can
also be stretched on a frame as a room divider/screen; they can be made into beautiful pillows; or they can become
wearable and functional art. Every time someone rests on one of her silk pillows, or wears a silk scarf as a beautiful
accessory to an outfit, they are experiencing her art, instead of simply looking at it.
The vibrant colors that can be achieved with silk dyes are what first attracted Joy to silk painting. The techniques that
are unique to the medium help achieve effects that cannot be accomplished in any other medium. The vibrant colors
and the techniques together, along with the natural silk fibers seem especially well suited for creating artwork of
nature subjects. While she finds silk painting to be very challenging and often frustrating, it is also very rewarding.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts - Northern Illinois University, 1976; Culminating in a One-Woman Show in Weaving
Bachelor of Science in Education – Northern Illinois University, 1971
Additional classes completed beyond Master’s Degree - Savannah College of Art and Design, Chapman University,
Rockford College, Drake University, Lewis University
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Phidian Art Club - 2007 - Present
American Craft Council - 2007
The Next Picture Show Fine Arts Center - 2006 - Present
Surface Design Association - 2006 - 2007
Haymarket Guild of Artists, 1990 – 2006; Treasurer 1996 – 2000
Illinois Art Education Association -1985 – 2006
Photo by LifeTouch Portraits
