Joe Engel

A self-taught, mixed media artist, Joe Engel has been making art for as long as he can remember. As a child he spent much of his time with dogs, exploring the woods behind his house. As a young adult, he worked with State Parks and wildlife sanctuaries, inspiring his thematic choices. “Every time I paint, I am trying to capture a certain euphoria I feel when a piece has turned out well. New ideas are fuel for work that is constantly evolving. Starting with simple sketches, I begin to explore the relationship between the existing world and an imaginary one. The combination of clean lines and bold color is used to create works that straddle the line between raw and refined.” Joe resides in the Shenandoah Valley with his wife and son.