Joyce Pekala Bak is an award winning artist who resides in Southern California.  She graduated from Chicago’s prestigious art school, The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.  At the Academy, Joyce was trained in traditional art academy technique.  She was introduced to the Impressionist philosophies and palette from teacher and figurative artist, Pat Olson.  

After years of working as a Graphic Designer in Chicago, Joyce moved to Southern California where painting en plein air has become her passion.  In 1980, she was greatly influenced during her visit to Giverny France, witnessing for herself the dappled color and atmospheric light of Claude Monet’s home and gardens.  Other inspirations come from the French and Early California Impressionists with their ability to portray light with color and a few carefully placed brushstrokes.  Joyce’s work captures today’s light and color in a contemporary approach.

As First Place Winner of the Carmel California Plein Air Art Festival 2005, her work is recognized for its unique voice, vivid color palette and strong composition.  The Palm Springs Art Museum has exhibited her work during March/April of 2006.  She has been awarded Artist-in-Residence in Yosemite National Park through their Yosemite Renaissance 2006 Program, where she will be painting en plein air, following in the footsteps where photographer Ansel Adams worked.  One painting produced from the body of work during the residency will be available for selection in the permanent collection of the Yosemite Museum.

Recently she was a participating artist in the Chateau des Arts Mentor series, traveling and painting in the Loire Valley, France with Signature Artist Kevin MacPherson.   Other award winning teachers have been Ken Auster, Cynthia Britain, Jeff Horn and Mark Kerckhoff.

Recent Awards:

First Place Award-               “The Carmel Plein Air Art Festival 2005”

Third Place Award-             LPAPA’s “The Best of Plein Air Exhibition 2005”

Honorable Mention-            “Paint the Back Bay 2005” 

Solo Exhibitions:

Cedros Village Fine Art Gallery, February-March 2006

Laguna Hills Center, February 2006

Juried Exhibitions/Festivals:

Palm Springs Art Museum Artist Council 37^th Exhibition, March/April 2006

Paint the Back Bay, October 2006- Honorable Mention Award

San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival, October 2005

The Mission San Juan Capistrano, July 2005

LPAPA Artist Member Show, June 2005

The Carmel Plein Air Art Festival, May 2005-First Place Award

LPAPA The Best of Plein Air Show, March 2005-Third Place Award

San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival, October 2004

Crystal Cove Alliance Coastal Splendor, September 2004

LPAPA Artist Member Show, March 2004

Paint the Back Bay, October 2003

LPAPA Artist Member Show, March 2003

Coastal Art Splash Dana Point, June 2002

LPAPA Artist Member Show, June 2002

Memberships:

Laguna Plein Air Painters Association

Oil Painters of America

California Art Club

Gallery Representation:

Cedros Village Fine Art Gallery, Solana Beach, CA   

Silver Heron Gallery, Depoe Bay, OR 

Crystal Cove Interpretive Store, Laguna Beach, CA