JoAnn Peralta | Realist /Impressionist painter

JoAnn Peralta, Fine Artist JoAnn Peralta's fine art paintings have captivated collectors with her keen sense of mood and lush brushwork since 2004. Each painting invokes a timeless romantic flair towards life and sets a tone of intrigue through her use of lighting and color. The beauty of light with a contemporary, modernist touch is what Peralta describes as her inspiration. Her passion for the West, historical and romanticized, are what dominate her vision and scope as it pertains to her hispanic and Italian ancestry and it continues to draw Masters of the American West, Autry Museum patrons and collectors.

Peralta's early training came via an opportunity to attend the illustrious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California when she was awarded a full-time scholarship upon recognition of her portfolio. Shortly after leaving Art Center, she began a successful career as an illustrator and naturally drifted into fine art. She had always had a strong vision in her heart about what she wanted to paint and the direction it would take her. All that combined with her technical training and draftsmanship skills prepared her for what came next. She showed some of her works to Maryvonne Leshe, managing director and owner of Trailside Galleries and it was well received by her. Peralta was asked to show her paintings at the gallery. It was a dream come true and the collectors response was overwhelmingly positive.

In 2009, Peralta's vision caught the eye of renowned fine art critic, collector, and Special Assistant to the President of the Gene Autry Museum, John Geraghty. He personally invited her to show in the 2010 Autry Masters of the American West Exhibition and Sale held annually at the museum. "I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to share my vision alongside so many of my hero's of fine art, such as Howard Terpning". Today she still continues to exhibit in the show six years later, but this coming show will be different.

"John recently passed away which is difficult to accept but having that connection in fine art with his seal of approval at having invited me to show will always be a capstone in my career. He was a very dear friend and I will always cherish the memories shared with him", adds Peralta.

While JoAnn Peralta has had much success in this very prestigious and important show in American Western Art she continues to excel in her passion at demonstrating her love of painting and setting the bar higher for herself. "I continue to look forward to forging new directions into the world of fine art that will continue to escalate and grow in areas of ideas and thought. I am an avid historian of modernist art in equal conjunction with my love of representational, Western realism so those two thoughts and worlds can't help but evolve into something wonderful", states Peralta.

Recently, Peralta was given the honor of having her painting, "Heart of the West" (W.S. Hart Museum courtesy of the Natural History Museum, L.A. County) to be displayed in the Longworth Building of the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C. "I was initially invited to do a painting to represent the district of Congressman Knight that would be displayed in the California State Capitol in Sacramento". "However, Congressman Knight loved the painting so much he asked if he could display it in his offices at the Longworth Building in Washington, D.C". "I was ecstatic and consented to this honor".

JoAnn Peralta's early illustration career was developed through training with fine artist Morgan Weistling, whom himself was an illustrator at that time. Thereafter, she naturally transitioned into fine art as her skill level progressed and she began to study the works of V. Van Gogh, J.S. Sargent, A. Zorn, Clark Hulings and Joaquin Sorolla. She also credits God with giving her the talent in the first place and the passion to pursue excellence.

Her work appears in, How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Your Favorite Subjects by International Art Magazine, and has been included in Art Business News Magazine, International Artist, SouthWest Art, Western Art and Architecture, Cowboys and Indians, and Art of the West.

Her work was the subject of a feature article written by, John Geraghty, in Dec. 2012 issue of Western Art Collector Magazine.

JoAnn Peralta is represented by InSight Gallery, in Fredericksburg, Tx. As well as, Trailside Galleries, Jackson, Wy, and Scottsdale, Az.

JPeralta's Latest News and Upcoming Shows include:

• "Masters of the American West, Exhibition and Sale 2016" held the Gene Autry Museum, Glendale, California.
• "Settlers West, American Miniatures Show", February 2016.