Abstract and Fine Artist and Professional Digital Photographer

 

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois Jo Jo  was fascinated at an early age by bright colors and drawing on the wall, to a point where her father told her mother to “just put a frame on it (the wall)!” She was encouraged by her parents and teachers to try any form of art and crafts that she could get her hands on.

 

With the new wave of modern technology hitting, she took an immediate interest in Computer Art and Desktop Publishing, where, along with raising her family simultaneously, she studied Art, Color and Graphic Design at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  

 

She worked as a Graphic Designer at Lifetouch Publishing Company in Loves Park, Illinois, where she enjoyed designing high-end elementary and high school yearbooks all over the country. After several years, her interest in photography emerged, especially the black and white photos that she was using to create yearbooks. Her favorite influencers were Ansel Adams, Sebastiao Salgado and stock photographer and owner of "The Photo Vault" in San Francisco, California, Wernher Krutein. Jo Jo studied Digital Photography at The Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, Illinois where she received Certification as a Digital Photographer and worked as one for Lifetouch's Portrait Divisions in Algonquin, Schaumburg, and Lombard, Illinois. 

 

In 2012, Jo Jo was accepted at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, where she studied figurative drawing and oil painting, color and black and white photography, graphic design and cinematography all under renown professors.

 

Her art influencers include abstractionists Gerhard Richter, Jackson Pollock, Sean Scully, Wassily Kandinsky; other influencers are Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Michelangelo; and graphic designers Paula Scher and Walt Disney.

Several of JoJo’s art pieces were selected for four consecutive years into the annual Juried Student Art Exhibitions held annually at Dominican University. And, after having 15 of her original pieces selected and featured on consignment by business owner Renata at LUXE Showroom in Chicago, Illinois, for 6 consecutive months, Jo Jo had her first Art Opening & Exhibition on March,11, 2016, her father's birthday. After selling several signed pieces that included double and triple panel abstracts, Jo Jo said that one of her dreams had come true. Also included in her first exhibition were some of her children’s art as well. The apple doesn’t fall far ….

 

Jo Jo followed her dreams by moving to “art heaven” Sarasota, Florida in 2016,

where she believes that "Art is in The Air" around every corner! As is love. Jo Jo also met the love of her life shortly after moving here. It's only the beginning!” she says.

 

 

Other accomplishments:

 

2016 Art Show & Exhibition at LUXE featuring original artwork by Jo Jo 

2012- 2016 Dominican Star Newspaper Photographer, Sports & Events 

2012-Photographic Book Published 10,000 copies Archival History of St. Hubert's Catholic School, Hoffman Estates, IL

2012-Media Pass Videographer & Photographer for The Neo-Nato Protest in Chicago, IL 

2014, 2015 Official Chicago Cubs Summer Camp photographer, Chicago, IL

2015  One of The last official photographers to Photograph Cardinal Francis George of Chicago  

2015  Official Photographer, Body Building Competition, Davenport, Iowa

2015  Official Photographer North Beach Volleyball Competition, Chicago, IL