Paint & Pastry Brushes: Cinnamon roll lady says 'I've got art in my heart

Most of us know Joanie Foster as the Du Quoin State Fair's "cinnamon roll lady," but there's another side to her--a woman who says "I've got art in my heart" as she sometimes trades the pastry brush for the paint brush.

She says God's hand is at work in her art and in her life every day. Joanie has been in Du Quoin this week for the Holiday Rambler's Campvention, for the NubAbility Athletics Camp and for Tuesday's Jennifer Thompson concert in Keyes Park.

She set up a mini studio in the Senior Citizens building at the fairgrounds to instruct campers and was brought to tears as limb different athletes picked up a brush with only one hand or only their toes to try their hand at painting.

"Over 35 years ago I was employed by the Decatur school district as a cafeteria manager and entered my "Mallards in Flight" painting in an amateur art show."

She won first place and her love of painting has only grown since then.

"My other love (other than husband Jim and the dedicated customers that buy my homemade cinnamon rolls) is my love of painting of which I am very proud. I am grateful that God put art in my heart and the paintbrush in my hand, as well as guide my love of country landscapes into my hobby time."

"I am not retiring from using my pastry brush on my cinnamon rolls, but I am enjoying putting more time in using my paint brush into my hobby time."

She says she would like to make her art into things like stationery and greeting cards, more private commissions and working with children to develop their artistic talents. "No matter what I do, my art comes from my heart," she said.