about

The Artist

Artist Joe Oakes has been drawing and painting his entire life. He remembers drawing on any spare paper or cardboard he could find and the excitment that came with each new pencil or paint set.

Since earning his BFA from Cal State Fullerton in 1997 he has been working as a graphic designer. Although he enjoys this work, it just didn’t give him the creative outlet he longed for. Now that he’s returned to drawing and painting he spends every spare moment on it. Trying to get back into things was difficult but his rediscovery of pastel has really made it possible.In fact, it is the only medium he’s currently working in and believes there’s a lot more learning and experimentation to do. His subject matter are natural, scenic beauty and street scenes. He considers these important, brief moments in time that surround us all and are sometimes taken for granted.

Joe is originally from Chicago and currently resides with his wife and two sons in the Palm Springs area of Southern California.

News

September/2007

Painted Canyon I selected as part of the 2nd Annual USPA Exhibit & Sale at The Esther Wells Collection in Laguna Beach, CA.

August/2007

3 Works selected as part of the year-long exhibit, Art4Health, located in the Student Health & Counseling Center at Cal State Fullerton.

August/2007

Painted Canyon I receives an Honorable Mention in the United Society of Pastel Artists Summer 2007 Online Contest.

November/2006

2 Works selected as part of the 1st Annual USPA Exhibition and Sale at LAPAPA Studio in Laguna Beach, CA.