Joe A. Oakes
Artist Bio
Joe A. Oakes was a curious and observant child who began drawing at age five. He’s been painting full-time since 2008 and like other artists, had many previous occupations including, substitute teacher, art consultant, and graphic designer. Oakes has survived cancer and the loss of a child and used these life-changing events to propel his art career forward. His landscapes burn with the first brilliant seconds of sunrise and the last fiery moments of sunset. Expressing those feelings through the use of bold, vibrant highlights and shadows of violet hues is his signature. His work offers a meditative sense of calm and happiness, with a profound reverence for the mountains, canyons, and valleys of the West and Southwest. Oakes holds a BFA from CSU, Fullerton, and his awards include Third Place, “Sears Invitational”, Utah Tech, 2024, Best in Show, “Nature of Color Show” Art Brut 27, 2020, First Place, “Visions”, Chaffey Community Museum of Art, Ontario, CA, 2019. His work has been included in “ArtsThrive”, Albuquerque Museum, NM, 2023, “Slowpoke Western Art Show”, Solvang, CA, 2022, “Shock of the New West”, Tubac Center for the Arts, AZ, and recently appeared in International Artist Magazine, Issue 152, August/September 2023. Oakes resides near Palm Springs, California.