Artist Bio
Joan M. Saiberlich Bohlig was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. She earned a BS
degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MFA
from Alfred University, Alfred, NY. She has also taken various classes at the
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Atelier Aghib in Brussels, Belgium, and
at Minnesota River School of Art, Burnsville, Minnesota, and Paquet &
Hurinenko Studio in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1961 Joan moved to Minneapolis to
teach art in the Minneapolis Public Schools. There she met and married George
Bohlig. From 1980-1982 1/2 they lived in Brussels, Belgium. They currently live
in Eagan, a southern suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. They have two grown married
sons, lovely daughter-in-laws, and six wonderful grandchildren. Joan has
maintained her own art studio/gallery since 1963 doing etching, oil painting,
collage, and illustrating several books. She is represented in collections
across American, in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her 130th one person show was at
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN January to March 2019.
Joan says," I began this series of ‘Etchings on Biblical Themes’ in 1974 at a
time when I personally was not getting much satisfaction out of life as a
mother, wife, and homemaker with two art degrees. I was taking evening classes
and earnestly praying, asking God to show me something to do to make my life
seem worthwhile. With praying came watching for possibilities. The ‘Wolf in
Sheep’s Clothing’ was sketched on a church bulletin during a sermon on that
theme. It was used in my etching class for the first of these biblical etchings.
The second was a different size and shape. With the third etching using a
biblical theme, the possibility of a unified series became apparent. Shortly
thereafter, all the etcher’s materials and an ancient press became available
through an artist’s estate sale. In 1975, in south suburban St. Paul, Minnesota
we built a home in the woods with an art studio between the house and garage.
The antique press has been replaced by two modern presses and the prayer has
been upgraded to ask God to work through me and use me. I believe He is doing
this and that His hand is also in this work. My family’s Christian heritage, and
the Bible yield an unending source of wonderful material. The making of these
etchings has positively changed my life and I anticipate continuing on with this
series as long as I am able."
She has to her credit a 1994 calendar of etchings for ELCA. Her work has been in numerous book illustrations, group shows on several book covers, and she has
illustrated two books. Her pottery, drawings, paintings, etchings and collages have been
exhibited at 130 venues as one-woman shows in the United States and abroad.
Etchings from the series; Etchings on Biblical Themes’ are in collections
throughout the United States, Belgium, France, England, Germany, The
Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela,
Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and The Ivory Coast
West Africa.
Joan is eager to share her work. The work can be made available as; a large
(73 framed pieces), or small (any size) gallery show. She can provide a gallery presentation at your request. The etchings are also for sale as individual works of art unframed or framed with museum quality materials in several different formats.
Contact Joan for arrangements.
Joan Bohlig
degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MFA
from Alfred University, Alfred, NY. She has also taken various classes at the
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Atelier Aghib in Brussels, Belgium, and
at Minnesota River School of Art, Burnsville, Minnesota, and Paquet &
Hurinenko Studio in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1961 Joan moved to Minneapolis to
teach art in the Minneapolis Public Schools. There she met and married George
Bohlig. From 1980-1982 1/2 they lived in Brussels, Belgium. They currently live
in Eagan, a southern suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. They have two grown married
sons, lovely daughter-in-laws, and six wonderful grandchildren. Joan has
maintained her own art studio/gallery since 1963 doing etching, oil painting,
collage, and illustrating several books. She is represented in collections
across American, in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her 130th one person show was at
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN January to March 2019.
Joan says," I began this series of ‘Etchings on Biblical Themes’ in 1974 at a
time when I personally was not getting much satisfaction out of life as a
mother, wife, and homemaker with two art degrees. I was taking evening classes
and earnestly praying, asking God to show me something to do to make my life
seem worthwhile. With praying came watching for possibilities. The ‘Wolf in
Sheep’s Clothing’ was sketched on a church bulletin during a sermon on that
theme. It was used in my etching class for the first of these biblical etchings.
The second was a different size and shape. With the third etching using a
biblical theme, the possibility of a unified series became apparent. Shortly
thereafter, all the etcher’s materials and an ancient press became available
through an artist’s estate sale. In 1975, in south suburban St. Paul, Minnesota
we built a home in the woods with an art studio between the house and garage.
The antique press has been replaced by two modern presses and the prayer has
been upgraded to ask God to work through me and use me. I believe He is doing
this and that His hand is also in this work. My family’s Christian heritage, and
the Bible yield an unending source of wonderful material. The making of these
etchings has positively changed my life and I anticipate continuing on with this
series as long as I am able."
She has to her credit a 1994 calendar of etchings for ELCA. Her work has been in numerous book illustrations, group shows on several book covers, and she has
illustrated two books. Her pottery, drawings, paintings, etchings and collages have been
exhibited at 130 venues as one-woman shows in the United States and abroad.
Etchings from the series; Etchings on Biblical Themes’ are in collections
throughout the United States, Belgium, France, England, Germany, The
Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela,
Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and The Ivory Coast
West Africa.
Joan is eager to share her work. The work can be made available as; a large
(73 framed pieces), or small (any size) gallery show. She can provide a gallery presentation at your request. The etchings are also for sale as individual works of art unframed or framed with museum quality materials in several different formats.
Contact Joan for arrangements.
Joan Bohlig