Profile piece on fine artist JoAnne Von Zwehl

1. June 2015 | 107
25A
artform
| 25A www.25Amagazine.com106
Art
A
rtist JoAnne Von Zwehl is happiest when she’s standing in the
light. It’s a Wednesday afternoon in Brookville, New York, and
JoAnne is locked away in her art studio on the second floor of
her home, standing in a perfect sunray that’s beaming through
the French doors overlooking the view of her lush green North Shore lawn.
It’s that perfect time of day on Long Island, that time of day that illuminates
us, and highlights the beauty we all possess. JoAnne captures that perfect
light in everything and everyone she paints, and her subjects are always
shown in their best moments, in their best light.
“You see how the canvas illuminates here?” JoAnne asks with an enthusiastic
sparkle in her blue eyes as she points to the area of the face on the canvas
she’s currently creating. “This is the magic. This is the light.” JoAnne
smiles as she speaks, and her voice is
melodic with a subtle hint of laughter in the
undertone and it is immediately apparent
that JoAnne is in love with making her art.
JoAnne Von Zwehl has been commissioned
by many prominent families, on Long
Island and across the country, creating beautiful, timeless family portraits
for the estate home. It’s often a portrait of the entire family, or perhaps
a moment between a mother and child, a father and his son, or even a
portrait of children at play. Working from a photograph, Joanne creates a
beautiful rendition of life in paint.
In her work, JoAnne goes beyond the canvas. With each commission,
she gets to know her subject prior to the paint. She spends time with her
clients, listening intently, getting a feel for the lifestyle, combining what she
learns with her own very strong creative vision. She may visit the client’s
home and consider the space before she puts a brush in the paint. She
makes recommendations and considers interior design factors. JoAnne
wants her work to live perfectly in the home, as if the painting is an extension
of the room.
“Nothing is more rewarding than the reaction of the viewer,” says JoAnne
in talking about her work, “I love seeing reactions. It warms my heart.”
The path of an artist is often difficult and there is no guaranteed formula for
success in the pursuit of creativity. Even though JoAnne knew early on that
she had a tremendous desire to paint and create, her father, philanthropist
Joseph Von Zwehl, insisted that she pursue an education in finance because
he thought a degree in finance would guarantee a happy, prosperous life
for his daughter. Prosperous, yes, but happy was a stretch as JoAnne
struggled with her inner desire to make art.
JoAnne
Von Zwehl
In the midst of her financial success as a consultant in her own real estate
business, JoAnne signed up for art classes as a way of decompressing from
the stress of her fast paced, hectic career. She attended classes in Great Neck
and the class was made up of mainly of children learning to paint. This did
not deter JoAnne and she immediately began unfolding her talent for painting.
Her teacher in Great Neck, Vivian Christopoulos, now 84, says that JoAnne
quickly learned the skills and techniques required and more importantly,
JoAnne had a strong burning desire to paint. Her work soon flourished and
came alive. Today, JoAnne’s work lives not only on the canvas, but also in
lithograph prints, on book and CD covers, and on prayer cards. One of her
prints “Our Lady, Queen of America,” hangs in the office of Nassau County
Executive Ed Mangano.
Making art is not JoAnne’s only focus these days. A single mom with three
children, JoAnne also runs a faith-based organization, M.A.N. Foundation, with
her mother, Noreen Von Zwehl, providing water, food and supplies to third world
countries as well as building Catholic churches, religious schoolhouses and
convents. She is also president of Rosa Mystica, a beautiful, spiritual 160-acre
campus in Edmeston, New York, where retreats and conferences are held.
JoAnne Von Zwehl has a strong faith and works diligently to bring light and
happiness into this world. In everything she does, there is a smile and a
prayer. She loves to laugh and have fun, and enjoys the Long Island lifestyle
and nightlife with her circle of friends. JoAnne believes in finding balance
in life. When life gets hectic and seems out of sync, JoAnne relies on her
faith and her art. Her art studio is her happy place. In her studio, JoAnne
can focus her creative energy and play in the colors that tell the story of that
special moment in time she is capturing on the canvas. JoAnne is thrilled
when it all comes together as she imagined it would. Just as when JoAnne
imagined those years ago, that she could take that step into the unknown
and become an artist. JoAnne Von Zwehl is happy standing in the light,
and it is beautiful.
By Carla Hall D’Ambra
PhotobyJosephineRoseLalli-Jungkunst