Joan Matzdorf took her first painting lesson at Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa as a 5 year old. She then painted under numerous instructors during her formative years. After graduating with honors in the arts, she went on to Albright Institute in Buffalo, NY, and also painted with Alexander Hogue at the University of Tulsa. She spent many more years studying with numerous impressionist artists.

Joan's work has been shown at Philbrook and Gilcrease art museums in Tulsa, Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City, and with Oil Painters of America. It is also part of the permanent collection of the Albright Institute of Buffalo, NY.

Her paintings have been shown in the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas; Shadid Gallery, Edmond, OK; Elkhorn Gallery, Winter Park, CO; Southwest Art Magazine; and Art of the West Magazine.

She is also a member of Plein Aire Painter of America, Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists, Women Artists of the West and American Women Artists, and signature member of Plein Aire Artists of Colorado.