Raised in coastal Florida and Texas, Joe Jackson has always felt a deep connection to the ocean.
He studied engineering and art in California (BS, BA, Stanford ’83), and for twenty years pursued a successful career as a design engineer in Silicon Valley. Sketching and painting were always an active interest, and gained more personal significance as time passed. He was eventually drawn to continue his formal study, beginning with courses at a local community college. He devoted himself to painting full time in 2009, and began showing his work. Seeking further development, he studied under individual artists in California, New York and Florida, traveling as necessary, developing the highly realistic style he is known for. In 2010 he moved to Key West, where he now resides, studies and paints.

He finds solace and beauty in the natural world and over the years has spent many hours exploring-- hiking the woods, hills, and deserts, freediving, sailing, surfing, and soaring the coastal and inland mountains.
The ocean in particular has always been a refuge and spiritual home and he remains immersed in it, returning again and again to find pleasure, adventure, renewal and inspiration.

“For me the ocean has always been a place of mystery. I have been thrilled, enthralled, and sometimes awed to meet and merge into that dark sparkling beauty.
I hope with my work to capture and convey my sense of the sacred nature of the natural realm, to suggest the mystery beyond the veneer of objective reality.”

He has shown work in numerous group and individual exhibitions in California and Florida.

Personal Profile:

Working studio artist.

Education:

Private Study with Richard Murdock. 2011,2012
Life Drawing Classes, Florida Keys Community College 2010, 2011
Drawing, Painting, Color Theory, and Art History. Foothill College 2009, 2010
BS Product Design, BA Human Biology, Stanford University 1983

Exhibitions

The Gallery on Greene, Key West Florida 2013
Connections Project Key West-Key Largo 2013
Stone Soup Gallery, Key West (solo exhibition) 2012
Key West Art Center 2011-2013
Anne McKee Charity Art Auction 2011,2012
The Studios of Key West 5th Anniversary Celebration Plein Air 2012
Key West Light Gallery 2011
Foothill College Open Studio 2010

Awards & Grants

Anne McKee Artist’s Fund Grant 2012
People’s Choice Award, KWAC Holiday Show 2011
Artist of the Month, Whole House EcoCenter 2010