About
Hi! My name is Joanna, and I love making art. This site is meant for friends, family, and mutual acquaintances to browse. Having a shop like this enables me to spend more time creating and helps cover the cost of materials.
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I've long associated art with the act of giving – from cards for friends to community projects to online art exchanges. My wish is for people to be able to spread the joy of art even further than I am able to in my own circle, or build their own collections affordably.
(and yes, the name Spreading J.O.Y. is a play on my name)
Block Printing
Block printing is a printmaking technique wherein a design is carved into a block (rubber in this case), the raised areas of the block are inked, and the block is pressed onto a surface to transfer the image. This yields unique, small-batch prints with manual imperfections.
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Most inking on block prints is applied with a roller to create a thin, uniform layer. However, I use stamp ink pads for ease of switching between colors and creating prints to order. This leads to a different selection of ink colors per paper type due to varying compatibility.
Watercolor
Watercolor is a painting medium comprised of pigments and water-soluble binder. It is characterized by its translucency which allows for layering and luminous colors.
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I use watercolor in combination with a few other techniques, including fine lines with ink, masking fluid which preserves white areas of the paper, and metallic paints which shimmer at different angles.
Line & Wash
A technique often used in urban sketching, line and wash is a mixed-media approach that combines pen/ink and watercolor. The lines and brush strokes are typically loose and expressive, capturing the essence of the subjects and scenery without worrying about imperfections and minute details.
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I paint urban architecture and scenery in this loose line and wash style due to its ability to simplify complex structures and perspective. It is difficult to duplicate a piece in this style, so I only list them as originals (no reproductions).