TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee, B.S. Joe Parrott is a self-taught artist. He worked in the graphic arts industry for 43 years while continuing to pursue his artistic aspirations. He currently paints full-time and is dedicated to a lifelong pursuit of creative evolution and exploration. He is greatly influenced by Edward Hopper, Van Gogh and printmaker Lewis Martin. I want my work to express the elation I feel when I see bright sunlight bouncing off a brick building; when I see sparkling reflections in a body of water; when I see a bright blue sky illuminating objects in a deep shadow. These things inspired me to paint. For me, it's all about the light and shadows.