Ask any horse, dog or cat owner what feature stands out about their four legged buddies and they’ll tell you it’s their personality. Capturing that personality is what Joanne Stephens does best.

Born with both a love of animals and a talent to draw, Joanne has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. Her huge love of animals has always been the driving force behind her artwork.

As a child, Joanne collected every "critter" that she could convince her parents into having, and everything she could find, rescue, or capture to sneak into the house whether they slithered, crawled, ran or hopped! That's where her close bond and connection with animals developed.

She was awarded the prestigious Bank of America Fine Arts Award at the age if 18. She then went on to major in art at San Diego State University. Joanne has worked in animation, illustration, graphic design, and etched glass. She created and manufactured a very successful line of equestrian rubber stamps called "Hoofprints" with over 250 designs that were sold nationwide followed by her whimsical collection of stationery products called JoAnnimals.

Her favorite art; "anything that'll make people laugh!" She finds the humor in each individual animal she paints and brings them to life with great big smiles and expressive eyes.

Joanne currently resides in Southern California on a small ranch with a menagerie of two cats, two dogs, and three horses.