Brushwork
watercolors 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, the subjects and their surroundings.
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, wooden 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 unpredictability of the paint is
the characteristic that helps Joe form dramatic skies, seas, and the physical texture of real objects. Techniques such as graded washes, transparent color layering, dry brush detail and the reserved white of the paper, are all used in varying degrees to form paintings
infused with emotion.
Joe has been a featured artist at galleries in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. He has also received awards at regional art shows.
He continues to work with other watercolor artists to explore new methods and challenge
his creative abilities.
His illustrations have appeared in books and magazines about the New Jersey coast.
His paintings are in private collections
in the U.S., Europe, and Bermuda.
Joe & his wife, Laurie, maintain studio homes in Wawa, Pennsylvania & Cape May, New Jersey.