About Joyce

Art has always been part of my life.

Although my professional career led me into engineering and later executive leadership in information technology, I never lost my fascination with light, colour, and the natural world. After retiring, I finally had the opportunity to devote myself fully to painting—a passion that has become both a creative challenge and a lifelong pursuit.

I divide my year between two places that continually inspire my work. Summers are spent in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands, where rugged granite, forests, lakes, and waterfalls provide endless inspiration. Winters are spent in Venice, Florida, where the Gulf Coast offers dramatic skies, changing light, and extraordinary wildlife. Together, these landscapes have shaped both my subject matter and my artistic voice.

Working primarily in oils, I paint landscapes and wildlife that balance careful observation with expressive brushwork and colour. Some of my paintings begin as plein air studies before being developed in the studio, allowing me to preserve the immediacy of the experience while creating more refined and emotionally engaging works. Increasingly, my wildlife paintings combine realism with bold, stylized elements that invite viewers to look beyond appearance and connect with the spirit and personality of each animal.

My artistic development has been guided by exceptional teachers and mentors. I have studied at Fleming College and the Haliburton School of the Arts, as well as the Venice Art Center in Florida. Along the way, I have learned from respected artists including Gordon Harrison, Ian Roberts, Harvey Walker, and, most recently, through two years of mentorship with John David Anderson. Each has encouraged me to look more deeply, simplify with purpose, and paint with greater confidence and authenticity.

My work has been exhibited through the Venice Art Center and Art on the Dock on Kennisis Lake, and is held in private collections in both Canada and the United States. I am a member of the Arts Council of the Haliburton Highlands and the Venice Art Center, and currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Arts Council of the Haliburton Highlands, supporting and promoting the arts within our community.

Whether I am painting a quiet waterfall in the Haliburton Highlands, a wolf whose gaze suggests wisdom, or a Florida panther filled with strength and intensity, my hope is always the same—to create paintings that invite people to pause, look a little longer, and experience the emotional connection that first inspired me to pick up a brush.

Thank you for visiting my gallery. I hope these paintings remind you of places you’ve loved, moments you’ve treasured, and the beauty that surrounds us every day.

Joyce Sumara