Joyce Birkenstock began her artistic career with an interest in portraiture and has remained true to that endeavor.  She has worked as a commission portrait artist for many years as well has painted decorative art for the publishing industry.  Joyce Birkenstock received her training at the University of Dallas, the University of Iowa, the Norton Art School, the Art Students League, and the Vermont Studio Center.  Since 1998 she has been traveling extensively worldwide collecting images for Artistic Journeys, her series of paintings of indigenous people.  Her medium is oil on canvas.

Joyce has received many prestigious awards, her work has been exhibited extensively, and is found in many collections, public and private.