As a kid growing up near Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, Joan Gladstone spent every summer day enjoying thrilling rides, hot dogs and pink cotton candy at the famous amusement park, or hanging out at the beach with friends.
Little Grass Shack, Crystal Cove, oil on canvas, 18 x 18"
Later, as a teenager, Gladstone frequently took the subway to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Museum admission was free, so for $2, we had just enough for subway tokens, pizza and soft drinks,” she recalls. “Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to have both a beach and great art on my doorstep.” That experience, plus a rigorous education at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts, propelled Gladstone to paint.
Balboa Ferris Wheel, oil on canvas, 40 x 30"
“My oil paintings merge the carefree summer days of my youth in Brooklyn with the joys of living and painting in the beautiful art community of Laguna Beach, California,” she says. “I paint the ‘California dreaming’ lifestyle. My subjects range from Ferris wheels, surfboards and lifeguard chairs to beach cottages, classic cafes and iconic VW buses. I use bold color, clean lines and minimalist compositions to elevate the grandeur of everyday scenes and objects. My favorite compliment is when people say my work is beautiful, colorful and happy.”
The Best Breakfast, oil on canvas, 24 x 18"
In addition to appearing in scores of juried art shows, Gladstone’s work was featured at the Hilbert Museum of California Art in Orange, California. She will be exhibiting her paintings at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach from June 28 to September 1. —
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(949) 633-9900 | www.joangladstone.com
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