I believe that artists cannot exist without influences; it is however how they use them to form an individual approach that separates one from the other. Many strive to paint what the see, their hand and eyes becoming a camera. I like to see how far I can go from what I see or recall and break down the elements into pattern and design while still keeping the feel of what drew me to the subject to begin with. How pattern, forms, color and texture relate to one another has always fascinated me. As a story evolves on the canvas, there is usually a strong sense of drama and spirituality incorporated into the composition. Painting for me is like a dance, sometimes I lead, sometimes I follow. I would describe myself as an intuitive painter. My point of reference is often my inner soul.

New York City’s garment industry is where Joan DeRugeris started her commercial art career. Working for leading textile converters, she designed prints for ready to wear and home furnishings. After receiving her degree from the State University of New York, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Joan’s paintings were widely exhibited throughout the mid Atlantic states. She now brings her diverse artistic talents to the New England area. While she still utilizes pattern and design elements, her current pieces reflect an artist in the midst of a personal and artistic reawakening. Artistic evolution results from a continual process of self-examination and self-discovery.
Joan's journey manifests itself on canvas through the use of mixed medium, acrylics and oils where subject matter is revealed via color and texture, exploring universal themes and human drama. Within her portfolio, landscapes, global architecture, human spirituality, and generations of rebirth evolve from an amalgamation of color and pattern. Joan is in the heart of an artistic renaissance. Each work provides an avenue where she visually represents the many aspects of an artistic and personal epiphany.
Joan’s artistic development continues through studies in advanced painting at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass. Joan's pieces have been widely exhibited in New England galleries. Her work has been selected for numerous juried gallery shows. She is a member of the Providence Art Club and maintains a working studio in the Angell’s Lane studios at the Deacon Taylor House in Providence, R.I. A native of Long Island, N.Y., Joan has been a resident of Marion, Mass., since 1986.