Joy Makon

Joy Makon is a passionate observer of color and light; she explores the relationships of watercolor paint, heavy paper and contemporary reality. Her paintings are based on observations of daily life through landscapes and seascapes, often with figures incorporated into the composition. Subjects come from neighborhoods in NYC, and from travels domestically and abroad. Makon employs classic drawing and watercolor techniques in her paintings; for example, she uses the white of the paper rather than white paint, to convey the strong sense of light that is so evident in her work. It is her unique approach to subject, composition, point-of-view that makes her work anything but traditional.

Joy Makon has a BFA in graphic design and photography from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, where she studied with John Moore, Stanislaw Zagorski and Joseph Scorsone. Her work has been shown in juried and gallery shows and can be found in private collections throughout the U.S. Makon has been recognized by the Art Directors Club, Society of Publication Designers, Society of Illustrators, for her work as a magazine art director. Joy is a member of artist-run 440 Gallery in Brooklyn. She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA. BFA in graphic design and photography.
School of Visual Art, NYC, coursework in watercolor and drawing.
Pratt, NYC, coursework in watercolor.

• July 15 – August 2, 2019 41st annual Open Exhibition in Painting, Sculpture & Graphics at the Salmagundi Club in NYC. My painting "A July Sparkler" was juried into this show.

• March 13 – April 14, 2019 "Personal Journeys" at 440 Gallery Project Space. I am showing two classic landscapes from Utah and Nova Scotia.

• February 19 – March 7, 2019 Figuratively Speaking at the Salmagundi Club. My painting Afternoon at the Cloisters was juried into this show of any and all aspects of the human form.

• August 4 - Spetember 30, 2018
I have two paintings "Overlooking the Lullwater" and "An Old Pine in the Long Meadow" in the Adirondacks National Exhibit of American Watercolors at View Arts, Old Forge, New York.

• July 23 - August 3, 2018
My painting "Downtown" received the Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Watercolor at the 40th Annual Open Exhibitions in Painting at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

• April 9 - 28
American Watercolor Society 151st Annual International Exhibition. I have a painting that has been accepted into this show at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

"Latitudes" a 2-person show of watercolor and bronze sculpture at 440 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY September 7—October 8, 2017

"A Taste of Pema...