Originally from Illinois, Joane Cromwell has become well known for her colorful Plein Air styled depictions of California. Many of her best known works focus on native California trees, such as the sycamore, the Pacific Ocean and the California deserts and mountains.

She led quite an artistic life, was married five times but chose to keep “Cromwell” as her working name. (She was born Catherine Strode)

She studied art in Chicago but made the move out West to California in the 1920’s, living throughout Southern California before finally settling in Laguna Beach. She also kept a studio in the Palm Springs area and produced an extensive body of work showing that region’s desert and mountain landscapes.

She studied under some of the California greats, such as Anna Althea Hills and Edgar Payne. One of the interesting facts surrounding her work is that a painted she did of San Juan Capistrano hung over the desk of Edgar Hoover of FBI fame.