
Joanny
is an accomplished painter living in the Provence region of southern France,
where so many of the great impressionist masters—Cezanne, Matisse, Monet and
Van Gogh—captured the extraordinary light and vivid colors of the unspoiled
scenery. Joanny is inspired by the same vibrant landscape, from its deep
lavender fields, olive groves and delicate almond blossoms to its charming
countryside, farms and homes.
Jean Tierant (Joanny) was born in Paris in 1931. His father was a master
calligrapher and his mother worked as an architectural designer. Their rich
creative influences instilled in Joanny a passion and talent for drawing.
In his early teens, he headed off to the stimulating environment of the
Montmarte district of Paris where Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir and Matisse once
lived. While in Paris, Joanny spent long afternoons in the studios of
artists and friends of his parents, where he studied their techniques. They
gave him brushes and canvases to use and encouraged him to develop his
career. These mentors recognized the talent in one so young and were
thrilled when he sold his first paintings and began his profession as an
artist. Around this time he adopted the nom de plume “Joanny.”
But the money didn’t come in fast enough after Joanny married and started a
family. As so many artists often do, he took other jobs. He was talented in
sales; and once he made enough money to keep his family secure, he was able
to turn his attention back to the life he had begun so many years before.
Joanny eventually moved his family to Provence, where he established himself
as a fine art painter. His exhibitions soon spread over many cities
throughout southern France—Aix-en-Provence, Giens, Hyeres, Toulon, Marseille
and La Seyne Sur Mer, and many others.
Joanny is especially skilled in creating figurative compositions using a
rich palette to represent the emotional quality of the landscape. Joanny’s
ability to construct dimension through color and shape invites the viewer to
imagine walking into the scene. He has forged over time a very personal
style that gives his landscapes an atmosphere of pure joy and exhilaration.