Brushwork
watercolor art of joe milligan
Joe's watercolor paintings are described as sensitive and emotional.
They invoke a sense of realism in time and place. He attributes this to a keen sense of observation of the subjects and their surroundings.
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A lifelong resident of southeastern Pennsylvania, Joe spent his childhood Summers at his grandparents' home and marina on Brigantine island at the New Jersey shore.
His grandfather and uncles were
carpenters and baymen; a heritage which has influenced Joe throughout his life.
Some of his fondest memories are of the island with unpaved gravel roads, wood boats,
empty beaches and rock jetties.
This innocent simplicity of the 1950's and 1960's influences his paintings and choice of subjects.
Working in watercolor
is one of the most challenging art forms.
The unique characteristics of soluble pigment interacting with water allows Joe to form dramatic skies, seas, and the physical texture of real objects. Graded washes, transparent color layering, dry brush detail and the reserved white of the paper, are just some of the techniques used to form paintings infused with emotion. But, most important to Joe is storytelling within his work. He strives to start a picture narrative so that the viewer can finish with their own experience and memory.
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Joe is a featured artist at galleries in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and
New Jersey. His paintings have received awards at regional and international art exhibitions and are in corporate and private collections in the U.S., Europe, and Bermuda. Joe’s illustrations have appeared in books and magazines about the Jersey coast and marine art.
Joe is a Signature Member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society and is an associate member of the American Society of Marine Artists and New Jersey Watercolor Society.
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​He continues to work with other watercolor artists to explore new methods and challenge
his creative abilities.
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Joe & his wife, Laurie, maintain studio homes in Wawa, Pennsylvania & Cape May, New Jersey.​
Studio open by appointment.

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