Joanne Felt's work combines photographic and personal imagery as metaphors for human drama. Felt's personal imagery is based on impressions and recollections. She often incorporates words or titles of works in her compositions. Water is a recurring symbol in her compositions which is used to emphasize the currents of thought and emotions.

Felt's drawings are studies in contrasts of light and dark which unite the incisive and the suggestive in a single image. In her work in acrylics her investigation expands to include diverse surface treatments and contrasting textures. Her color evolves in richness and complexity as the work develops.

She received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. in painting from the University of Illinois. She began teaching at the University of Alabama, Huntsville in 1983 and at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville. She has taught at Iowa State University and was artist-in-residence at the Art Center.

Source: News, November/December 1987.