Hi Terry > Once it was pointed out to me (by Kakki?) >that she was also influenced by the Canadian >plains artists, things came together for me.
I remember writing about it but think maybe Evian? brought it up first? Check out this link and the paintings shown from the Group of Seven - definitely looks like Joni's been either influenced by them or has the same affinity http:www.groupofsevenart.com/ > I see her work now as mainly naive, not in a >negative sense, but as a style known for those >who have not had formal training and whose >use of perspective, line, color >and composition are used intuitively, much like >a child. All this talk here has got me thinking and questioning. Joni attended art school and I wonder just how much she was taught in the way of technique. Did she resist formal training? Or did her teachers forsake technical criticism or instruction in favor of original style? As I wrote the other day, my painting teachers provided minimal or no technical instruction. I have no idea why they had this approach. I recall feel a little cheated in school by their lack of involvement in actual instruction of various techniques other than to give us ideas on new materials and wander the class muttering a comment or two here or there. I wonder if there was a kind of hands-off approach in art instruction that was in vogue in the 60s/early 70s. I know to some extent that some art teachers believed you either "had it" inherently or you didn't. It's something for me to ponder about in retrospect. Kakki
