This semi retired, energetic and dedicated artist now resides in Indiana after selling her art business after thirty years of teaching thousands of students at her Darflinger School of Fine Art in St. Charles Illinois. She is now enjoying the next chapter in her life as she focuses on taking fellow artists on plein air painting retreats all over the world. In the past five years Joan has conducted plein air painting retreats in Monet's Garden, Giverny France, at beautiful locations throughout Italy, Sicily, British West Indies, China, Switzerland, Germany, Hawaii and next on to Ireland. She now lives at the waters edge of Koontz Lake in Indiana where she also conducts painting workshops in her home which was once a fishing lodge. Joan shows no signs of slowing down, teaching with enthusiasm and painting with passion is such a joy in her life second only to her love of family, grandchildren and dear friends.

This dedication has long been a part of her life. Her childhood love of art was encouraged and nurtured by her family and continued at the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Joan has become a prize winning artist, and a well respected art instructor. She has also enjoyed being one of the many TV artists on PBS stations through the Alexander Art Company as well as her own shows on local cable stations titled Painting with Joan.

Her characteristic style includes a wide variety of subjects from portraiture, landscapes, still life, seascapes and murals. This prolific artist has created more than four thousand paintings during her career and still continues to enjoy painting and sharing her talents with students everywhere.