Joel Ogard

Joel Ogard was born in Seattle, Washington on June 11, 1959. His parents had a keen interest in art and even painted and sketched together while dating. Joel remembers his Father, a marriage and family therapist, oil painting as a leisure activity during his early childhood. Joel’s Mother, who had majored in art and education in college, made sure that Joel and his older brother Jon had ample art supplies at home and encouraged their creative efforts. Joel’s maternal Grandmother was a committed wood sculptor during her retirement years, and prominently decorated her home with her families numerous works of art. Joel remembers pouring through art books of the great masters during his frequent visits to her home. Joel was also encouraged and inspired by his paternal Grandfather and Uncle, both of whom continually produced paintings and other works of art.
Drawing and painting were a natural pursuit during Joel’s formative years. He began watercolor painting in earnest as a high school sophomore, and began showing and selling his paintings while in high school. He majored in fine art and minored in philosophy in college. He was honored with his first solo exhibit at the university art gallery and graduated magna cum laude from Pacific Lutheran University in the spring of 1981.
Following graduation, he worked briefly at an architectural firm, leaving to pursue a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Oregon in the fall of 1982. Concerned with the dismal prospects for architects during the recession at the time, he took a one- year leave of absence from school to ponder his future. During this time pursued his interest in painting and established relationships with fine art galleries. By the end of the year he was encouraged by the progress he had made and embarked upon a career as a fine artist.
Joel has shown his work in several galleries including the Attic and Lawrence galleries in Oregon, Gallery Americana and New Masters galleries in Carmel, California, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, California, and Galleria Prova, Tokyo, Japan. Numerous solo and group shows of his work include a solo exhibit in the Governor’s Ceremonial office at the state capitol in Salem, Oregon. His work has been published in numerous formats including greeting cards, posters, calendars and jig saw puzzles. His works are in numerous collections including Westin Hotels, Nordstrom’s, Sears, and the University of Oregon.
Most of Joel’s work has been in the watercolor medium. Other mediums of interest include drawing and oil painting. He is drawn to the classic aesthetic ideal of art as an expression of the sublime and the beautiful- preferring to create artworks that convey and elicit positive thoughts and emotions. His range of subject matter includes landscapes, farm scenes, nature, home and garden, still-lives, floral, children, figures and portraits.