Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Joan lives and works in Toronto, Ontario.  She is married and has a pet Akita.

Joan received her professional training in a combined Psychology and Fine Arts Degree from York University.  Here, she received a top ranking among all Fine Arts students.

To build on her Psychology training, Joan has undertaken course work at the Graduate level, in Statistics and Psychometric Assessments.

Since completing her formal education Joan has had extensive experience in the fields of Counseling and Vocational Rehabilitation, having worked for:  The Clarke Institute of Psychiatry's Child Advocacy Program, and the Workers' Compensation Board's Rehabilitation Department.

On a personal level, Joan mentored under the late, Bella Kovarsky, Founder of The Bayview School of Ballet.  She both trained, and performed, with the School for over eighteen years.  Joan is also an accomplished Pianist and Piano Teacher, well known in the Toronto area.

More recently, Joan returned to studying with accomplished Artist and Art Teacher, Betty Herman, at The Klim Art Studies.  Other mentors include renowned America Artists, Chris Saper, known for her personal and Corporate Portraiture work, Jerry Yarnell, award-winning Nature and Wildlife Artist, and Chinese-American Artist, Hongnian Zhang, who inspires the east-west connection.