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The US Department of State, Art in the Embassies Exhibition in the US Embassy of Montenegro - Inspiration for Twisted Lounge Lizard. Twisted Lounge Lizard is one of four paintings headed to an exhibit at the US Embassy in Montenegro. The exhibit is curated through the US Department Arts in the Embassies (AIE) program. The US Ambassador is Judy Reinke.

Twisted Lounge Lizard ©JoyEful Party Animals®
I have had the good fortune to run into Gila Monsters by my home and local hiking trails. We have one of these beautiful creatures living around our front yard. I have only spotted him twice in three years. We have a mutual respect!
I recently learned Utah has made the Gila Monster their official state reptile.
Twisted Lounge Lizard is following the adventurous path of the JoyEful Party Animals. The gila monster's color, texture and patterns are spectacular. I just had to paint it! My work juxtapose reality with fantasy, inspiring the viewer to see the fun in the mundane and the vast opportunities for joy in our everyday world. I love painting the surrealistic mixture of animals imitating human habits and in their natural habitat. Ohhhh the tales these tails can tell!

The US Department of State, Art in the Embassies Exhibition in the US Embassy of Montenegro - Inspiration for Come Fly with Me. One of four paintings in the JoyEful Party Animals® Huge International Adventure! “Come Fly with Me”© was painted from one of my own reference photos. This gorgeous great horned owl was at the end of my daily Pinnacle Peak hike. It was so exciting to be so close to him. His yellow eyes, beautiful soft patterned feathers were gorgeous. The light was perfect! All I had was my cell phone camera. I knew I had to paint him! I started snapping away. I never know what I will find on my hikes on Pinnacle Peak! I have run into deer, Gila monsters, rattle snakes, a baby owl, javelina and even a mini horse! They also have wonderful educational programs.
I am honored to have the the opportunity to have the beauty Arizona represented in this exciting destination of the US Embassy in Montenegro

The US Department of State, Art in the Embassies Exhibition in the US Embassy of Montenegro - Inspiration for Pinnacle Peak Persistence. This is one of four paintings heading to the US Embassy in Montenegro.
“Pinnacle Peak Persistence” © was painted in 2012. The year I quit my 18 year art teaching career to pursue art full time. I was excited, but scared to death! I knew I had to keep a healthy routine so I wouldn’t become paralyzed by the “what if’s”. Every morning I would hike Pinnacle Peak.

This is a painting of the back side of Pinnacle Peak. This is the last big uphill part of the hike. It was hard for me at first. I just kept telling my self, “Don’t stop, just put one foot in front of the other”. I took that motto back to my studio each day. Sometimes the scariest place to be is alone in my studio in my own mind of “what if’s”. The motto of “Don’t stop, just put one foot in front of the other” helped me to focus on the positive possibilities. I painted my life and my stories. My goal was and still is to tell my stories and compete with myself to improve my painting skills. A very dear friend and cousin put it best, “Ain’t life grand when we get out of the way and let it unfold”!

JoyEful Party Animals® Big International Adventure. “A JoyEful Horse of Many Colors” © will join three other JoyEful Party Animals® for three years in a exhibit in the US Embassy in Montenegro.
“A JoyEful Horse of Many Colors”© (48x30, oil on canvas) is one of the beautiful wild Salt River Horses. What a thrill to encounter this gentle giant in his habitat! I hiked and crawled under trees and bushes to get to this place on the river. This is the moment both of us spotted each other! It took my breath away! Another one of his buddies joined us. It was a magical moment! I am honored to share one of Arizona’s many treasures with US Ambassador Reinke in Montenegro!

The US Department of State, Art in the Embassies Exhibition in the US Embassy of Montenegro - the JoyEful Party Animals are having a grand adventure!

I can finally share the news about The JoyEful Animals BIG Adventure!

I am honored (that is an understatement...I'm over the moon!) to receive notification from a curator for the Art in the Embassies at the US Department of State. I have been invited by Ambassador Judy Reinke and the Art in the Embassies to an exhibition at the US Embassy in Montenegro.
In case you're not familiar with the AIE Program, they curate temporary exhibitions of American art for US Embassies around the world. You can read more about this wonderful program on their website. https://art.state.gov/
My complete information should be up on the website shortly https://art.state.gov/personnel/joye_degoede/


I'm so excited to be listed with such legendary artists! You can read about the inspiration for each painting on my blog on my website Joyesart.com
My paintings will be in this exhibit for approximately three years. The paintings represent a slice of Arizona. They are:
"A JoyEFul Horse of Many Colors" ©JoyEful Party Animals® Joye DeGoede 48x30, Oil
"Come Fly with Me" ©JoyEful Party Animals® Joye DeGoede 11x14, Oil
"Twisted Lounge Lizard" ©JoyEful Party Animals® Joye DeGoede 12x24, Oil
"Pinnacle Peak Persistence" ©JoyEful Party Animals® Joye DeGoede
16x20, Oil

“JoyEful Shenanigans” © joined the JoyEful Party Animals® I had fun visiting with my friends @The Spotted Donkey @the Boulders Resort. Ron suggested I do a painting with the barrel of Patron made just for the Boulders Scottsdale.
They would love to join your habitat for some harmless shenanigans!