Bio

Joely C. Rogers is an artist, illustrator, and writer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. She has professional training in natural science illustration via the SIPD and graduate academic training in education, folklore, and storytelling. Joely is a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers. For over twenty years, she co-owned Frame Destination LLC, an online picture framing company, with her spouse Mark Rogers. She has extensive knowledge of picture framing and art display/sales. 

Artist Statement

Each artwork I create begins with a graphite (pencil) sketch, which I may develop further using colored pencils and/or watercolors. Once I’m satisfied with the image, I digitize it using an Epson scanner.  From there, I use Adobe Illustrator to block in the image in simple colors. The Big Magic happens in Adobe Photoshop, where I use digital painting techniques to add fine details and texture, and imbue mood. Most of my art is series-based and depicted in a folk-art style sometimes imbued with a bit of whimsy. I aim to tell stories with my artwork that will both educate the viewer and inspire them to do further research on their own. 

I am passionate about nature, animals, and plants. They have been the main stabilizing factors in my life and depicting them has helped me navigate anxiety/depression, fibromyalgia, and a late autism diagnosis. I find inspiration in my daily walks in nature, my sketchbook practice, and my ongoing studies in natural science and folklore. I also have a deep love of storytelling and food from my rural south Mississippi upbringing, where we shelled peas and told stories on the porch with a glass of sweet tea in hand. Thank you for visiting my page! 

Check out my artist’s CV/resume. 

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