Joan Teed’s paintings reflect her relationship with color and personal inspirations that shape her work. Joan was one of those arty kids growing up, and there was never a question in her mind whether she would become an artist when she grew up. The path to becoming a professional artist formally began at the University of Texas and the University of Houston, where she majored in art and developed a strong foundation in architectural and technical drawing. At just 23, she earned a position as a technical illustrator at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston—an extraordinary role in which she spent two decades rendering every imaginable component of the Space Shuttle, illustrating flight manuals and payloads, and even contributing to the design of mission patches. After leaving NASA, she returned to expressive, fine‑art practice, studying advanced painting at The Art League of Houston School of Art. There, she fell in love with oil painting, beginning a deeply personal journey of exploration and self‑discovery that continues with every blank canvas. Her current work centers on a series of underwater figures illuminated by fractured light. Drawn to the ocean’s infinite spectrum of blues and the meditative sensation of being submerged in clear water, she seeks to evoke a realm of serene weightlessness. Through shifting patterns of light, abstracted forms, and softened distortions of color and shape, her paintings invite viewers into a space of calm, contemplation, and quiet escape. She is an active member of the Peninsula Art League and the Puget Sound Group Northwest Artists, communities that support and enrich her ongoing artistic growth. Today, she divides her time between Tuscany—where she and her husband have a small property near Florence—and Gig Harbor, Washington. The contrast between Mediterranean warmth and Pacific Northwest tranquility fuels her creativity, offering the rare privilege of living an artist’s dream in two inspiring worlds. "My paintings reflect a blend of personal experience, environment, my relationship with color, and the inspirations that move me. I have experimented with many mediums, but oil remains my all‑time favorite. Although my subject matter ranges from still life to landscapes and portraits, I tend to paint whatever draws my attention in the moment. Three elements remain constant in my work: oil paint, color, and the play of light." -- Joan Teed Over the past two decades, her work has been consistently recognized across the Pacific Northwest, earning distinctions that reflect both artistic growth and sustained excellence. 2024 – Honorable Mentions at both the Collective Visions Annual Statewide Show and the Peninsula Art League Summer Members Show2023 – Honorable Mentions in the Peninsula Art League Summer Members Show and the Open Juried Show (now known as The National Fine Art Show)2021 – Juror’s Choice Award, Peninsula Art League Open Juried Show2019 – Best of Show, Peninsula Art League Open Juried Show2011 – 1st Place, Peninsula Art League Summer Members Show2006 – 1st Place, Peninsula Art League Summer Members Show; Award of Merit, Northwest Pastel Society Juried Exhibit2005 – Best of Show and the Cheap Joe’s Award, Pacific Gallery Artists Open Juried Show2004 – Honorable Mention, Peninsula Art League Open Juried Show2003 – Best of Show, Peninsula Art League Summer Members Show Barlow Gallery is proud to feature the colorful artworks of Joan Teed.