Featured Artist: Joyce Beatty
Joyce Beatty is a lifelong resident of Hancock County, and one of the founding members of the Top of WV Arts Council (TWVAC).
In the early 80’s, Joyce opened a small craft shop in New Cumberland, WV where she conducted weekly adult and children’s classes. During this time, she also taught floral design classes at West Virginia Northern Community College Weirton Campus. “I found that teaching and encouraging others to use their own special talents was most rewarding,” Joyce said.
Later in life, Joyce’s interest in painting became more serious, leading her to experiment with oils first, and then acrylics. Her style falls between realism and impressionism. “Though I have taken numerous classes and workshops, I consider myself mostly self-taught. I am a firm believer that art calms and nourishes my soul,” Joyce remarked. “Creating has been a passion of mine for most of my life as I grew up watching my mother use her unique talent for creating something beautiful from nothing.”
Joyce has been a featured artist at Martha’s Gallery in Wellsburg, received a fourth-place award at the New Cumberland Riverfest Art Show, and an honorable mention award at a Spring exhibit hosted by the Steubenville Art Association. She has also shown her work at the Lincoln Park-Midland and the music and art festival in Hancock County.
A few years ago, Joyce pursued an interest in sculpting using air dry and oil-based clays to create what she calls “Santas from a Christmas Past.” These charming, handcrafted figures take many hours to create, and sell out quickly each year.
Joyce is currently a displaying artist at the Summit Art Gallery. She has been an active member of the TWVAC for many years. “I am very proud to say that I am one of the three founding members of the Top of WV Arts Council and was involved in the development of the Summit Art Gallery in Weirton,” Joyce said. “My hope for the Arts Council is that it will continue to grow, keeping in mind the goal of our mission statement which is to promote the visual and performing arts in our community.”
