Joy Postle Papers

Most of these materials are examples of Postle's art and are arranged by format. The folder of documentation contains price lists, some calendar pages from the First National Bank in Stuart, which show part of her mural, and information about paintings loaned to the Loch Haven Art Center. Her "Glamour Birds" act is well illustrated by photocopies of sheet music and poetry that she used. Postle wrote most of the poetry herself; some of the prose describes her work and the rest appears to be semi-autobiographical fiction.

Manuscripts are artwork used in preparation of planned publications not all of which were ever published. Acrylic paintings show lampshade designs, underwater scenes, Florida scenes and birds. This collection indicates that Postle often used watercolor in her early work. Her watercolors document the places that she visited, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Arizona, Idaho and the Smoky Mountains. Pencil sketches include portraits, birds, animals and Idaho. A portrait of Hermann Von Holst is titled, and one clearly shows Guy Beattie; however, the rest may show some people in photographs that have not been identified. Crayon drawings show unidentified landscapes. Oil Paintings show birds, flowers, pets, an orange tree, seascapes, a bell tower and Texas landscapes. One set of bird paintings is entitled "Rhapsody in Rose." Some of the oil paintings are framed and these include pets, birds and landscapes. These items are in storage, therefore, access will be by photographs only.

Pen and Ink drawings include Idaho landscapes, birds, nature, portraits, an example of the artist's signature and cartoons about cats. Some photocopies of the cartoons are also held in this series. In some cases, the artist's complete work may be seen from original pen and ink drawing through block prints to hand coloring producing a finished product for sale. These items are held in the Originals and Prints sub-series. Block prints without the supporting drawings are held separately and include birds, nature, cats and industrial scenes; some of these prints are hand colored. Box 9 and 10 contain spare copies of prints that are held elsewhere in the series. The "Secrets of the Everglades" folder was apparently a design for a folder intended to hold a collection of prints. Other examples of Postle's work include a notebook and a New Year's card.

Some of the best examples of Postle's work are her murals and these are well illustrated in the photographs. Other photographs show her work either as individual items, exhibitions, or during her performances of her "Glamour Birds" act. This sub-series is arranged by subject. Postle took many photographs that she used to create her art. These studies are also arranged by subject and many of the themes seen in the photographs appear in her paintings. She was commissioned to paint pets, and some of these photographs correspond to the oil paintings in the collection. Finally, her publications show that she not only wrote her own books, she also illustrated books written by others.

Titles in quotation marks are quoted from the art piece and are not an indication of a formal title.