I think I have, like so many others artists, drawn and painted since I could hold a pencil or brush.  My grandmother, Margaret Wright, was an accomplished Northwestern landscape, glass and ceramic artist.  I guess you could say, painting is in my blood.  I grew up in Washington State in the sister peninsula communities of Dash and Browns Point, Washington. The Points still inspire and ground me to this day.

Above: Self Portrait with Randy Storey and Leslie Storey Schauf. Watercolor

I began painting in earnest when I was 16 and a friend gave me a set of oil paints for Christmas.  I remember taking the set into my Stadium High School Art Teacher, Mr Weston,  and presenting him with my plan to discontinue his course of instruction so I could learn to paint in oils. He looked at me crossed eyed and then smiled, finally pulling out an old ragged canvas for me to “try” on and we were off. He knew nothing about painting with oils, so he found a library book to guide us both.  It was a huge canvas and I painted an ocean scene he had suggested out of the book.  We were both pleasantly surprised when it “turned out”.  From that I painted my own designs and ended up in the Annual Tacoma City wide student art show with an Honorable Mention.  I have painted or created on some level since those days.  But even with all that, Art was not my first selected profession.  I always included art, painting or creative classes in my courses at college and university, but actually graduated with my BA in Business Administration with a Marketing Specialization which was a “Sensible” degree from Western Washington University.  I was pretty successful in my business, sales and marketing life working in the corporate world at an Executive Management level and living in Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Minnesota for work.  It was an exciting time where I ran divisions and national groups.  But I, like others who have a dual personality for art and business (or other sensible professions) simply longed to create. 

In 2000, I finally escaped from Corporate America and the associated travel schedule to spend more quality time with my young son, Tyler. When he was a Kindergartner I decided to take an art class, “just one”…and as you may have already guessed, that turned into the path that I continue on today.

Above: Exploring the North Shore by Jo Storey – Of my son Tyler in 2002

I completed a five year Atelier style program in painting at the Minnesota River School of Fine Arts in Burnsville, Minnesota (now closed). The art stats are below, but I find it hard to believe it took me so long to return to where I truly belong, with creative people, doing what I love.  During art school in 2002 I began representing other artist through my own art marketing company, Giveney Marketing. In 2006, with several other like minded artists, we launched Savage Art Studios in Savage, Minnesota, which focused on art education, providing professional artists’ marketing services and renting studio space.  In 2007 we added a full time gallery and frame shop to round out our services. As our school and organization grew I became the primary partner and Director.  During our years in Savage, I am proud to say our group and family helped build a very strong foundation for the arts and arts education.   In 2016 my husband was finally ready to leave the mid-west so we reorganized our lives and returned to my hometown Tacoma, Washington. We returned to the Pacific Northwest and The Points outside of Tacoma, WA in 2017. 

Above: Left – Jo plein air oil painting on the Thea Foss Waterway, Tacoma, WA 2018.

Right – Wind Blown by Jo Storey painted on the Thea Foss Waterway.

 Today, my husband Jeff, I and Sammie (our Cairn terrier) are living in Tacoma’s historic Hilltop Neighborhood is a quaint 1904 home.   I now seem to focus on my family, friends and creating my own work.  I enjoy painting for myself and for my collectors.  Since returning to Tacoma I have been fortunate to be able to build a base of local collectors and they often commission me to do paintings of their favorite people, pets and places.  I do plan to return to teaching and I do plan to return to selling my work though local galleries, but it seems these marketing tasks continue to be pushed aside by those beautiful oil or watercolor paints which await my attention daily.  I have been so inspired by the beauty in the Pacific Northwest that surrounds us everyday that I rarely want to do anything but create!  

Above Left: Red Scissors by Jo Storey, Oil on Canvas  

Right: Ann’s Kite by Jo Storey, Oil on Canvas

fine art career highlights

• Professional Artist & Painter, 2001 to Present
  • Landscape, Still life and Portrait Artist
  • Medium: Oil, Charcoal, Pastel and Watercolor
• Savage Art Studios & Gallery, LLP
  • Director and Gallery Curator, 2006 to 2013
  • Instructor 2007 to 2013 
  • School of Fine Art, Gallery, Frame Shop and Professional Artist Studios,  Savage, MN.  Professional instructor for adults and children in drawing, oils and watercolor.   Our other instructors included (classes and workshops):  Andy Evansen, Richard Kochenash, Louise Gillis, Patricia Kness, Mike Rada, Fred Dingler, Christine Tierney, Dan Wiemer, Jo Storey, Dick Graves, Leslie Bowman, Darrell Tangen, Richard Abraham, Nelson Anderson and many more!!!  Gallery represented 63 professional fine artists from Minnesota and Upper Mid-West working in watercolor, oils, glass, ceramic and other media.  Full Service frame shop. Artist Studio Rentals.  Community gathering spot.
  • Curated a wide variety of Gallery shows for individual artists, studio groups, regional and community arts organizations.  Our shows changed every 6 to 12 weeks and represents up to 100 artists at a time depending on the theme or focus of the show.  We included all forms wall art, plus sculpture, pottery, glass art, jewelry and so on.  Our goal was to give local and regional professional and student artists a voice in our community.  
• Giverny Marketing, LLC
  • Director/Owner, 2001 to 2007
  • Professional art marketing firm. Developed sales channels, web sites and gallery relationships for a group of 42 professional artists in the Minneapolis/St Paul Metro Market.

MEMBERSHIPS:

• Oil Painters of America, 2017 to Present
• Northwest Watercolor Society, 2018 to Present
  • Pinterest Social Media Editor, 2021 to Present
• Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, 2005 to 2013
• Savage Arts Council, 2006 to 2013 (now known as Savage Area Arts Community)
  • Founding Member
  • Board of Director, 2007 to 2013
  • Minnesota Valley Art Fair – Chairman 2010 to 2012. Founding Member.
  • Scott County Arts Crawl, Chairperson – 2009 to 2012. Founding Member
  • Savage Arts Council Juried Arts Competition – Committee Member, 2007 to 2010. Founding Member

FINE ARTS EDUCATION:

• Minnesota River School of Fine Arts, Burnsville MN – 2000 to 2005. Studied representational fine art painting in watercolor and oil.  Studies mirrored classic Atelier painting processes.  Studied figure, portrait, still life, cast drawing, landscape and outdoor painting.  Studied with Richard Kochenash, Patricia Jerde, Fred Dingler, Patricia Kness (impressionist) and Linda Murray.
• Painting Workshops:
  • Mike Rada’s Outdoor painting workshop  
    Patricia Kness Outdoor painting workshop  
    Richard Kochenash Outdoor painting workshop and classes
  • Color Theory Workshop with Richard Kochenash
  • Watercolor World Workshop with Cheng-Khee Chee
  • Portrait and Figure with Louise Gillis

GENERAL EDUCATION

• Western Washington University, 1982  Bachelor of Arts – Business Administration with Marketing Specialization – Bellingham WA.  Also studied sculpture and children’s book illustration as electives.
  • Assistant Gallery Director for Student Galley 1981-1982
• Green River Community College, 1979 Associate of Arts – General Business, Design and Fine Art
• Stadium High School, 1976 – Tacoma, WA