Joan Blackburn is a well-known Pensacola artist, teacher, juror & judge whose specialty is transparent watercolor florals and still life, and watermedia abstracts. She considers her florals to be portraits of flowers, and loves to capture the exciting effects of bright sunlight casting shadows and varying the beautiful colors on and through the petals of flowers and glass.

She considers her forte to be in design and composition. This is very evident in the bold shapes, strong values, vibrant colors and design formats in her award winning non-objective paintings. She has taken workshops from some of the most well known artists and instructors in the country, and is continually studying and working to improve her art.

"I paint because I love to be creative, love glorious color and beautiful things. I like being a part of the art community, and teaching and sharing with students what I’ve learned through 36 years of study and experience."

Joan (pronounced Joann) taught classes and workshops at the Pensacola Jr. College Downtown Center in their Continuing Ed series for 14 years, but retired in 2006 to have more time to pursue her own work, teaching workshops and as a juror/judge of art shows.

~ Joan Blackburn


2007
Southern Watercolor Society
Watercolor Society of Alabama national competition, received award

2006
Texas Watercolor national competition, earned signature status
Southern Watercolor Society, earned signature status
Watercolor Society of Alabama national competition, received award
Florida Watercolor Society
Montana Watercolor Society national competition
Finalist in national competition sponsored by Artists magazine

2005
Watercolor Society of Alabama National Competition
Southern Watercolor Society
Florida Watercolor Society

2003
All member show of the National Watercolor Society

1999
Florida Watercolor Society, earned signature status
Finalist in national competition sponsored by Artists magazine