Welcome to Art By Joce W

Tag: Acrylic Art

  • Concept to Completion

    Concept to Completion

    Banned Book Cover Trading Card Exhibit

    Recently, I was selected to participate in the Banned Book Exhibit at the Valley Cottage Library. The call to artists was both challenging and meaningful: reimagine a book cover for a title that has faced bans or challenges in libraries across the country.

    I was chosen to recreate the cover for Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Mist and Fury.

    Behind the Scenes: The Initial Concept

    When I submitted my application for this piece, I envisioned a dramatic, atmospheric piece. My original concept pitch was:

    Concept: A central mountain framed by three stars, set against a deep navy and dark purple background. Warm, vibrant golds, browns, and creams bring the mountain and stars to life, anchored by soft wing details sweeping in at the edges.

    It’s always exciting to see how an idea evolves from quick notes and sketch lines into a finished piece!

    Check out the original concept sketches for both the cover and the bookmarks below!

    Bonus Work: The Bookmark Series

    Working within the exhibit’s specific size requirements meant I had to trim down my larger paper before getting started. Never wanting good paper to go to waste, I ended up with three bookmark-sized strips—the perfect canvas to create three complementary bookmarks!

    • The Bookmarks: Available now on my website at ByJoceW.com.
    • The Book Cover: To view or inquire about the original reimagined book cover piece, please reach out directly to the Valley Cottage Library.

    Thank you so much for being here and following along with my creative process!

  • The Muse vs. The Masterpiece

    “The Path to Midsummer”

    The original photograph that sparked inspiration was while driving away from a campsite after checkout in Pennsylvania on my way to vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC. The path of the road in front of me and the way the clouds and trees danced across the photograph inspired me to paint it. 

    “The Path to Midsummer”, an acrylic painting has green trees that frame the view, leading your eyes out toward the rolling hills in the distance. The bright, open sky gives the whole landscape such a peaceful feel, like the perfect day for a drive.

    “The Path to Midsummer”

    12/2025

    12” x 9” (framed copies 20” x 16”)

  • Afterglow: The Soft Sizzle

    Afterglow: The Soft Sizzle

    6/27 Release

    Welcome to Afterglow. 

    This collection is my latest exploration of the hazy warmth found in a fading day and the lingering energy of the sun, focusing on sunset pinks, crimsons, and fiery oranges. 

    “Whispers of the Sunlit Grove” is an abstract acrylic painting that embodies the vibrant energy of a summer afternoon. This artwork features a burst of leaf-like shapes where delicate veining dances across bold forms of crimson and orange. The play between the saturated colors and the radiant, sun-bleached background captures the hidden life force of a forest bathed in the golden hour light.

    In the acrylic painting, “An Echo in the Garden,” I wanted to explore the beauty of flora at twilight. Against a textured orange ground, two stylized, rounded blossoms emerge with centers that glow with a soft light. It is the contrast between the hazy, atmospheric pink sky and the grounded intensity of the floral forms that creates a sense of lingering warmth. 

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these sun-drenched abstractions and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • Solstice Rhythms: The High-Sun Series

    Solstice Rhythms: The High-Sun Series

    6/20 Release

    Welcome to Solstice Rhythms. 

    This collection is my latest exploration of the heat and vibrant energy of the summer sun, focusing on fiery oranges and deep crimsons. 

    “Ignition Point” is a mixed media abstract painting that features upward-swept brushstrokes in a palette of crimson, cadmium orange, and deep vermilion. This work utilizes heavy texture to suggest a flickering heat haze, while the geometric peaks at the center evoke the power of a sun reaching its peak. Set against a creamy background that mimics a bleached summer sky, the composition serves as a powerful focal point that radiates warmth and intensity.

    In the acrylic painting, “Midnight Petals on a Summer Day,” I wanted to capture the rhythmic dance of flora under the midday sun. Against a backdrop of oranges and golden yellows, you’ll find deep cobalt blue petals that provide a stunning study in color theory. It is the interplay between these cool shadows and the fluid, swaying strokes of the radiating warmth that gives this piece its unique visual rhythm.

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these high-energy abstractions and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • The Drift: A Coastal Meditation

    The Drift: A Coastal Meditation

    6/6 Release

    Welcome to The Drift. 

    This collection captures the contrast within The Drift, balancing the vast scale of the open sea with the boundary where land meets the mist. 

    “Sunlight on the Deep Blue” is an acrylic painting that invites you to experience the open ocean. This artwork features a distinct gold reflection cutting through a deep blue sea, leading the eye directly toward a horizon where the sun breaks through heavy clouds. The high-contrast palette of radiant yellows against the saturation of the deep blues captures that specific moment when the light perfectly hits the water’s surface, creating a visual pathway of energy.

    In the acrylic painting, “Where the Forest Meets the Fog,” I wanted to offer a perspective of the coastline’s edge. Against a green hillside, you’ll find vibrant orange-red flora that provide a sharp color contrast, popping against the cool landscape. This work uses a framed composition of overhanging leaves to look out onto a grey mist rolling over the distant water and mountains, emphasizing the stillness of a coastal forest in the morning.

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these atmospheric observations and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • Paradise Horizon Studies: Capturing the geometry of the earth

    Paradise Horizon Studies: Capturing the geometry of the earth

    Release 5/30

    Welcome to Paradise Horizon Studies. 

    This collection balances the fluidity of nature with the geometric planes of the horizon, serving as a visual study of how land, sea, and sky intersect to create a sense of calm. 

    “Palm Tree by the Shore” is an acrylic painting that highlights the geometry of the earth by comparing the vertical strength of a solitary palm tree against the horizontal expanse of the ocean. This artwork features a layered approach to the shoreline, where golden sands meet the white of crashing waves. The use of greens in the foreground foliage frames the sprawling blue horizon, emphasizing the vastness of the sea and bringing the serene energy of a coastal sanctuary into view. 

    In the acrylic painting “Arenal Volcano,” I wanted to explore its iconic presence and the triangular symmetry of volcanic peaks. Against a soft blue sky, the volcano’s rugged slopes contrast with the green canopy at its base. It is the centering of this massive form that allows the geometry of the peak to take center stage, capturing the power of the natural landscape. 

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these scenic observations and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • Jungle Chromatics: The primary pulse of the rainforest

    Jungle Chromatics: The primary pulse of the rainforest

    5/23 Release

    Welcome to Jungle Chromatics. 

    This collection is my latest exploration of the energy and life found within the rainforest, focusing on greens and pops of primary color. 

    “Capuchin in the Canopy” is an acrylic painting that features a white-faced capuchin monkey settled amidst lush foliage. This work uses thick brushwork and layered greens to capture the complex, shaded reality of the jungle canopy. The intentional play between the monkey’s distinct white face and the surrounding deep, overlapping leaves creates a moment of curious encounter in the wild. 

    In the acrylic painting, “Macaw in the Jungle Canopy,” I wanted to capture the electric brilliance of tropical plumage of this majestic bird. Against a background of forest tones, you’ll find the macaw’s coat of red, yellow, and blue acting as a powerful focal point. It is the contrast between the bold feather colors and the vertical lines of its tail that gives this piece its unique visual pulse.

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these colorful observations and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • Beyond the Bloom: Tracing the edges of the garden

    Beyond the Bloom: Tracing the edges of the garden

    5/16 Release

    Welcome to Beyond the Bloom.

    This collection is a vibrant and expressive exploration of movement, texture, and the hidden structures of the garden, deconstructing natural beauty into its most energetic forms.

    “Centrifugal Flora” is a floral abstract marker drawing that deconstructs the garden into rhythmic, geometric energy. This work uses overlapping circular motifs and radial patterns in a palette of magenta, forest green, and lime to simulate movement. It captures the force of nature, where petals and leaves appear to spin out from hidden centers.

    In the painting “Green Frost,” I wanted to explore lush foliage and the arrival of winter. This piece utilizes a rich layering of deep greens overlaid with white bud patterns that mimic bioluminescent moss. It captures the edges of the garden where life persists under a frozen veil, creating a sense of resilient, glowing life.

    Drawing inspiration from the simplicity of a single blossom, “Winter’s Pale Star” presents a high-contrast study of translucency and light. For this painting, I chose to highlight a singular white bloom with delicate pink accents set against a dark, forest-green backdrop. The composition emphasizes the fragility of the petals as they stand out against the depth of their surroundings.

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these expressive abstractions and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • Botanical Pulse: Visual rhythms of the garden

    Botanical Pulse: Visual rhythms of the garden

    5/9 Release

    Welcome to Botanical Pulse.

    This collection is an energetic exploration of nature’s vitality, balancing floral beauty with rhythmic patterns and geometric harmony.

    “The Crimson Trumpet” is a striking floral painting that captures a red Amaryllis bloom in full peak. Set against a neutral, slate-gray background, the saturation of the petals creates a powerful visual pulse that draws the eye to the center of the flower. The clean lines and minimalist composition emphasize the elegant, trumpet-like architecture of the plant.

    In the painting “Embers in the Glade,” I wanted to transport the viewer into a shaded sanctuary where an orange flower glows like a flame. This work uses sharp contrast, pitting the warm, fiery tones of the central blossom against a cool palette of seafoam and forest greens. The intentional placement of vertical stems and overlapping leaves creates the layered complexity of a garden glade.

    Drawing inspiration from the intersection of nature and design, the marker drawing “The Architect’s Garden” presents an abstract take on the botanical theme. For this piece, I chose to feature a rhythmic sequence of pink and magenta floral motifs encased in structured circles against a background of diagonal green and black stripes. This patterned perspective shows how the natural world can be brought into geometric harmony.

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these vibrant abstractions and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.

  • Prismatic Pulse: Where color finds its rhythm

    Prismatic Pulse: Where color finds its rhythm

    5/2 Release

    Welcome to Prismatic Pulse. 

    This collection is my latest exploration of energy, refraction, and high-contrast movement with a focus on the full spectrum of light. 

    “The Prism’s Fracture” is an exploration of light as it breaks into a rhythmic spectrum. This marker drawing features an overlay of diagonal stripes and waves, where the use of black intervals between the rainbow of colors gives the composition a pulsing effect. It is a study of how structured intervals can create a sense of vibrating life. 

    In the painting “Purple Passion Petal,” I wanted to pay tribute to the complexity of nature by centering on the beauty of a passion flower. Set against a deep green backdrop, the violet petals and white filaments are rendered with an expressionist touch. This work captures the literal pulse of a living garden. 

    Drawing inspiration from radial symmetry, “The Heart of the Meadow” draws the viewer inward toward a vibrant pink center. For this marker drawing, I chose to alternate rays of green that converge toward a heart composed of bubbles, intersected by a singular red winding path. The contrast between the structured rays and the organic path produces a sense of purposeful movement. 

    I invite you to immerse yourself in these high-energy abstractions and find the piece that resonates with your own rhythm. The full collection is now live in my online shop. I can’t wait to hear which one speaks to you.