Twenty years ago, Joan van Roden White began her college education studying art but earned instead a degree in Business Administration. For almost ten years she enjoyed a career selling computer systems after college, but deeply missed the creative process.

It was during this period, her grandfather gave to her his paint box full of oil paints and a loving inscription before he died. But since life was too busy for Joan to paint, the paint box remained unopened in the attic.

Getting married and relocating from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. offered Joan the option of changing careers. She was hired by Tiffany & Co. to help establish their Corporate Gift Division in the region. Here, she had the opportunity to work with their Custom Design Department as they created fabulous designs, producing them in high-end quality materials for her Corporate Clients’ gifts and awards.

The demands of this sales career, however, interfered with her family life. Determined to spend more time at home, she established her own interior design firm named ELEMENTS. Here, Joan had the opportunity to be more creative. She enjoyed working with design, color, lighting, furnishings and textiles to create residential and commercial environments.

In 1994 she and her family moved to Boston’s historic and beautiful North Shore. Fascinated by the rich art history of this region and the wealth of the area’s natural beauty, it was here that she was inspired to paint. At long last her grandfather’s paint box was dusted off and she began painting her surroundings.

She joined the local art associations and enrolled in painting classes and workshops to develop her talents. The importance of composition and color are evident in her paintings. The textural element of her oil painting also speaks to the viewer. She often abandons her brushes in favor of the palette knife to obtain a thicker application of paint and create a more textural effect.

Joan van Roden White exhibits regularly in Boston and its North Shore and sells her work locally and throughout the country. She is also available to be commissioned to create custom paintings for individual or corporate use.