Joan Findley-Perls

Joan Findley-Perls creates meticulously detailed drawings and paintings that capture the intimate beauty of the natural world. Working primarily in graphite, ink, and watercolor, she renders subjects with exceptional precision—each feather, leaf, and texture observed with devoted attention. Her work offers collectors more than botanical or wildlife accuracy; it provides a doorway into the profound connection between human experience and the wild.

Rooted in the high desert of the American Southwest and informed by Celtic heritage, Findley-Perls brings symbolic depth to recognizable forms. A bird becomes a messenger, a plant holds ancient memory, a landscape pulses with spiritual presence. Her images balance the real and the metaphorical, inviting viewers to discover personal meaning in subjects they thought they knew. This layered approach rewards sustained looking—each piece revealing new details, new stories with time.

Collectors are drawn to the quiet power of her work: the technical mastery that honors each subject, the emotional resonance that lingers beyond the first viewing, and the way her images celebrate what we love most about nature while suggesting something deeper beneath the surface. Her art creates spaces for contemplation and wonder, bringing the sacred rhythms of the natural world into lived spaces.

My process varies depending on the piece. I generally begin with a pencil sketch or detailed drawing on paper and add color with watercolor. I may also add gouache, colored pencil or markers depending on what the painting asks for. Sometimes salt or coffee grounds find their way into the piece to interact with the paints. I allow the process to drive its self.

Corrales Bosque Gallery