Born in San Angelo, Texas, Joey spent his teenage years in Houston prior to attending Auburn University.  Music, travel and design are all elements that influence Joey’s art.  “Watching live music and traveling with a sketchbook are probably the two most used tools in the creative process and often become the subject matter which I paint.”

At an early age Joey demonstrated a fondness and talent for drawing.  “I can remember sitting down and drawing with my dad when I was 4 years old – I mostly drew houses, I guess that was a little foreshadowing.”  In high school, art continued to be an avenue of self expression and creativity.  Upon graduating high school, Joey entered Auburn’s College of Architecture Design and Construction where his education concentrated on another art form – Architecture.  Of course, art remained of great interest during this time as media shifted from pastels to watercolor to pen and ink drawings.  However, it was a two month summer study abroad in Norway (where sketches were compiled daily) coupled with a watercolor and mural painting seminar that Fall that Joey credits as his “breakthrough”.  The painting class was taught by renowned artist David Braly, whom Joey credits with developing a true love for painting and for refining the technique and process that Joey uses to create his art.

Joey resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, Kristin and their baby daughter, Hannah Grace.  You will find Joey’s acrylic on canvas paintings are a reflection and expression of visual, audible and emotional stimuli around him.  Whether the inspiration is a sculpture in Norway or a jazz band in the French Quarter, his art evokes an emotion and experience that people seem to relate to.  “Most of my paintings are the result of a travel study sketch or even a photograph that allows me to recall that particular moment.”  Attendees of various charity events in Birmingham have probably seen or even bid on Joey’s paintings as he donates a number of paintings to help raise money for those less fortunate.  You can see a sampling of Joey’s paintings at LongoriaStudio.com.