In the midst of her financial success as a consultant in her own real estate business, JoAnne signed up for art classes as a way of decompressing from the stress of her fast paced, hectic career. She attended classes in Great Neck and the class was made up of mainly of children learning to paint. This did not deter JoAnne and she immediately began unfolding her talent for painting. Her teacher in Great Neck, Vivian Christopoulos, now 84, says that JoAnne quickly learned the skills and techniques required and more importantly, JoAnne had a strong burning desire to paint. Her work soon flourished and came alive. Today, JoAnne’s work lives not only on the canvas, but also in lithograph prints, on book and CD covers, and on prayer cards. One of her prints “Our Lady, Queen of America,” hangs in the office of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. Making art is not JoAnne’s only focus these days. A single mom with three children, JoAnne also runs a faith-based organization, M.A.N. Foundation, with her mother, Noreen Von Zwehl, providing water, food and supplies to third world
countries as well as building Catholic churches, religious schoolhouses and convents. She is also president of Rosa Mystica, a beautiful, spiritual 160-acre campus in Edmeston, New York, where retreats and conferences are held. JoAnne Von Zwehl has a strong faith and works diligently to bring light and happiness into this world. In everything she does, there is a smile and a prayer. She loves to laugh and have fun, and enjoys the Long Island lifestyle and nightlife with her circle of friends. JoAnne believes in finding balance in life. When life gets hectic and seems out of sync, JoAnne relies on her faith and her art. Her art studio is her happy place. In her studio, JoAnne can focus her creative energy and play in the colors that tell the story of that special moment in time she is capturing on the canvas. JoAnne is thrilled when it all comes together as she imagined it would. Just as when JoAnne imagined those years ago, that she could take that step into the unknown and become an artist. JoAnne Von Zwehl is happy standing in the light, and it is beautiful. June 2015 | 107