L. JoAnn Rhea has a diverse background from which to draw ideas for her designs and paintings. She has managed a large advertising department in Seattle and has headed up a technical editing department for "mobility environmental research" for the United States Department of Defense in Bangkok, Thailand. She has directed the Public Relations for a large Red Cross Chapter in Indiana and has served as the P-R Director for a liberal arts college in Michigan and also served as P-R Director for a coalition of over 100 Christian Colleges across the United States. In these positions, she produced many print media pieces for distribution through the country. Furthermore, JoAnn has produced and presented seminars, lectures and art shows in Ohio.

For two years, JoAnn lived in Bangkok, Thailand and revisited the kingdom six times. She speaks Thai, but says she is a "little rusty" these days as she has few people in Alabama with whom to converse.

Futher, JoAnn resided in Hong Kong one summer, and has traveled extensively. She has visited 23 countries throughout the world - several, more than once.

Incidentally, in JoAnn's teens and twenties, she taught flute and performed in many settings, including as featured soloist with her college choir, both on campus and on tour.

A college in Ohio has asked for her autobiography for its archives.

All of these experiences have impacted JoAnn's creative expressions. She loves working in many media. Having started her career with watercolors, she currently uses watercolors for florals and some landscapes, oils for architectural works, mixed media for abstracts and especially likes to work with acrylics for many other paintings. She has sold most of her work by commission and word of mouth demand, although she painted for four years, filling orders for a gallery/gift shop in Memphis, Tennessee. Throughout the years, she has drifted more toward contemporary abstracts many of which hint at her Asian experiences. Interior designers have begun to integrate her art into their designs.

She paints in her personal studios in Gardendale, Alabama and at the Warrior River, as well