Joan Eckman

Joan Eckman - Biography

#Pacific NW wilderness and rural art

ABOUT

Joan was born in 1952 in a small, rural community in eastern Washington where she and her husband Larry raised 2 sons on their small five-acre farm along with a myriad of animals. Their active family has been very physically active with many outdoor pursuits and interests that have kept Joan in the outdoors where she loves to be. Art took a back seat to raising a family and a career as the City Clerk-Treasurer for 25 years in her hometown. Since her retirement, her “art time” has become full blown with the help and support of her family. They currently live in the Yakima valley area of Washington and continue in their active outdoor pursuits.

Joan’s love of art developed at an early age and continued into college at Eastern Washington University. She received her BA in Recreation Administration with special studies in art and recreational therapy for working with handicapped children. Joan taught art to children in grade school, private lessons and through community recreation classes. She continues her professional contacts through membership with the Yakima Valley Artists Association, Larson Gallery Guild, and National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. Joan’s work includes a wide range of subjects. She credits her growth as an artist to desire and instruction. Her continuing desire to depict the natural wonders around her; the instructions of renowned watercolorist Nita Engle, and so many current and past artists whose information and works are so readily available and accessible electronically.

Life took an abrupt turn at age 22 for Joan after a skydiving accident left her partially paralyzed. The active outdoor lifestyle she loved changed dramatically in intensity, and the forced inactivity stimulated a new and fervent interest in her art. She returned to pencil renderings that were much more detailed. The need to add color developed gradually and she turned to watercolor which was easy to take with her on her meanderings. She continues to expand her art methods and now pursues much of her painting with acrylics. Her love of the outdoors continues to thrive and is evident in much of her work as she pursues outdoor activities with husband Larry; and the aid of crutches and braces. Joan keeps a backpack of art supplies for Plein air outings and keeps everything small and lightweight; under 20 pounds for mobility. Much of her inspiration is derived from the scenic areas they visit through a wide variety of modes of transportation. Joan’s art is displayed in private collections throughout the Pacific Northwest, US and Canada.

”A picture is just a fleeting moment in time”, states Joan. “Each moment is not its own; not a means within itself, or of itself, but a culmination of events leading up to and beyond that moment; as is life. There is so much beauty around us and life lessons to be learned. Hang on to the beauty.”

EDUCATION

Eastern Washington University 1975

BA Recreation Management with special studies in art and recreational therapy.

EVENTS and AWARDS

2026 Larson Gallery Guild members exhibition, Yakima, WA

Oak Hollow Gallery, “A Sense of Place”, Yakima, WA

2025 Yakima Valley Artists Association, virtual online show titled

“The Great Outdoors”

2024 Joseph Arts Festival juried exhibition with three pictures accepted,

Joseph, OR - Awarded the "Northwest Regional Landscape

Award" for "Storm Chase"

NOAPS 2024 Associate Member Online Exhibition juried in with

painting “Sun Above the Fog”
Earth Day Yakima juried show at Sarg Hubbard Park, Yakima, WA.

Larson Gallery Guild Members’ Exhibition, Yakima, WA.

2023 68th Central WA Artists Exhibition, LarsonGallery, Yakima, WA.
Yakima Valley Artists Association, virtual online show

Group Show,“Images of the Shrub-Steppe”,BOXX Gallery, Tieton,WA.

NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) Associates juried

online exhibition.

Solo Show, Clymer Museum and Art Gallery, Ellensberg, WA.
Group Show, “Life in Central Washington”, Moses Lake Art Gallery,

Moses Lake, Washington

Larson Gallery Guild Members’ Exhibition, Yakima, WA

2022 Yakima Valley Artists Association, virtual online show

67th Central WA Artists Exhibition, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA.
Awarded Schaap & Young Award

NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) Associates juried

online exhibition

Wenaha Gallery, Regional Artist Showcase, Dayton, WA

Larson Gallery Guild Members Show, Yakima, WA

2021 Larson Gallery Guild Members Show, Yakima, WA

2020 Plein Air Washington Artists online show.

Larson Gallery Guild Members Show, Yakima, WA

2019 Larson Gallery Guild Members Show, Yakima, WA

64th Annual Central WA Artists Exhibit juried show, Yakima, WA

2018 Larson Gallery Guild Members Show, Yakima, WA

63rd Annual Central WA Artist Exhibit juried show, Yakima, WA

Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA, juried exhibit, Images of the Shrub-Steppe

2017 62nd Annual Central WA Artist Exhibit

Awarded Best Painting

2016 Gallery One - Ellensburg, WA

61st Annual Central WA Artist Exhibit - Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA