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About Jo

Harford County
Jo Houtz is a former career federal employee who began painting after retirement.  She studied with one teacher, Renate Shelley, for 20 years.  She currently lives in Abingdon, Maryland but has displayed her works at regional are exhibits, shows and fairs from New York to Florida.  She has won awards at many of these shows.
View Jo's Resume
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Anomalies

This is a display of familiar subjects painted with a different look.  The paintings are all watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa Paper.
  • Tangled Nautulis.jpg
    Tangled Nautulis.jpg
    This is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper. The paper is soaked is crushed then soaked in warm water. It is then spread out and the background colors applied. This technique gives the painting a unique look and feel.
  • Dare To Be Different.jpg
    Dare To Be Different.jpg
    Again, this is a painting of watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper. The flower is a familiar sunflower but it's center is unique.
  • Gene Explosion.jpg
    Gene Explosion.jpg
    These are familiar objects with a different look. The painting is watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
  • Juiced Fruits.jpg
    Juiced Fruits.jpg
    This again is watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper with familiar objects having a different look and feel.
  • Ballet des Tulips.jpg
    Ballet des Tulips.jpg
    Watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper. The graceful sway of tulips and ballet dancers.
  • Transgenics.jpg
    Transgenics.jpg
    Watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
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    • The Ancient Series

    This is a series of paintings meant to depict cave paintings.  It originally followed the cave paintings in France until I decided to include some of our south west cave drawings.

    The paintings are done on crushed Japanese Masa paper using watercolor paints.  The crushing gives the impression of cave walls.
    • The Ancients-Bears.jpg
      The Ancients-Bears.jpg
      This is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper depicting many types of bears.
    • The Ancients-Bison Spirit.jpg
      The Ancients-Bison Spirit.jpg
      This painting is also done on crushed Japanese Masa paper and depicts our early hunting for food.
    • The Ancient Series-Catcher.jpg
      The Ancient Series-Catcher.jpg
      This is a watercolor painting on crushed Japanese Masa paper. Crushing the paper and soaking it created a unique look to the background and images.
    • The Ancients-Darwin.jpg
      The Ancients-Darwin.jpg
      This is a watercolor painting on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • The Ancients-Eagles.jpg
      The Ancients-Eagles.jpg
      Our majestic symbols and spirit. This is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • The Ancients-Primal Soup.jpg
      The Ancients-Primal Soup.jpg
      This is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper. The images are old and new.
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    • Bird Things

    Birds are incredible creatures with such variety of skills and color that I enjoy watching them and painting them.  These birds are all painted on crushed Japanese Masa paper using watercolor paints.
    • Barn Swallow.jpg
      Barn Swallow.jpg
      This is a barn swallow with it's distinctive purple coloring. The painting is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • Bush River (at Rts 24 & 40).jpg
      Bush River (at Rts 24 & 40).jpg
      These are local swans that I have been watching for years. They are painted with watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • Full Dress.jpg
      Full Dress.jpg
      This egret is displaying the bride veil that is visible during mating season for both male and female egrets. The painting is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • Grande Canadian.jpg
      Grande Canadian.jpg
      This painting is different. It is painted on watercolor paper instead of my usual masa paper. I love the rich colors of fall.
    • Long Eared Owl.jpg
      Long Eared Owl.jpg
      This Long Eared Owl is perched and ready to snag his dinner. This painting is a watercolor on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • Moonlight Courtship.jpg
      Moonlight Courtship.jpg
      I called this picture Moonlight Courtship. You can see the veils hanging down and not spread for display. The painting is done on crushed Japanese Masa paper. The paper gives the painting a textured look.
    • Red Tail Hawk.jpg
      Red Tail Hawk.jpg
      This Red Tail Hawk is often perched in one of my trees searching for his dinner. The painting is on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • Three Canadians.jpg
      Three Canadians.jpg
      These Canadians are taking a stroll in the snow instead of going south for the winter. The painting is done on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
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    • Dragon Flies

    This is a series of paintings of dragon flies.  They often visit me when I am out doors doing my gardening or lawn work.  Several times one would sit on my shoulder as I worked.  It felt as though they were asking me to paint them for others to enjoy.  All the painting in this project are watercolors on crushed Japanese Masa paper.
    • Black Saddlebags.jpg
      Black Saddlebags.jpg
      This is a common dragon fly that often appears in my garden.
    • Black Widow Skimmer.jpg
      Black Widow Skimmer.jpg
      Another common dragon fly.
    • Blue Eyed Darner.jpg
      Blue Eyed Darner.jpg
      I love to see the rich color in some of these dragon flies.
    • Calico Pennant.jpg
      Calico Pennant.jpg
      Another brightly colored dragon fly.
    • Flame Skimmer.jpg
      Flame Skimmer.jpg
      This one lives up to it's name---Flame.
    • Ringtail.jpg
      Ringtail.jpg
      This one is a bright example of a dragon fly.
    • Roseate Skimmer.jpg
      Roseate Skimmer.jpg
      Pretty in Pink.
    • Widow Skimmer.jpg
      Widow Skimmer.jpg
      I don't know why it's called a widow.
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