[relaxed acoustic music] Visit Sauk County, and there's a good chance of coming across artwork by Joan Stevens.

- I did a sign for the Baraboo-Dells Airport.

I love driving by that sign.

Roy's Classic Cars.

It looks like a 1950s Shell station, and did some pinstriping on a couple of features in there.

There's an airplane hangar in the corner.

I had to put the lettering up on top of it that said "Luther Field," which was really cool.

- And in downtown Baraboo, home of the Circus Parade... - I painted a 15-foot wagon wheel on the pavement in front of the AL.

Ringling Theater.

It's held up pretty good.

- Circus art is Joan's specialty, where her precision brushwork is helping restore and preserve the past.

- I am passionate about what I do.

I say that I specialize in restoration because I use the old trade skills that I've learned over the years-- still hand painting and antiquing and gold gilding.

A good day is when I can stay in my grubby blue jeans and come out to the shop and sling some paint.

[laughs] I have to smell turpentine and have paint on my hands pretty much every day.

Otherwise, it feels like something's missing.

- She also had a brush with fame, restoring wagons that appeared in the 2011 award-winning movie Water for Elephants.

- I was able to do the Sells Floto Ticket Wagon down at Circus World, #62.

- Joan's personal storyline mirrors the movie as she found herself seeking adventure.

- I kind of ran away with the carnival.

It sounds good when you say it that way, but I took a job.

I took off with a bag of clothes and enough money to get back home.

I was surrounded by hand-painted signs and images, and the rides were still hand-painted at that time.

And it just kind of was an immediate connection that I had.

- Joan ran away in search of her dreams and then discovered them right in her hometown of Baraboo.

- When I came home, I was determined to continue to paint signs.

And Circus World seemed like a pretty good fit.

And I've been there ever since, which is, I think 37 years if...

But who's counting?

[laughs] - Joan is currently putting the finishing touches on a wagon for Circus World.

- Ta-da!

We're gonna go down to the wagon shop, get to come in, and start decorating.

- So, these are the skyboards off of #44, Gollmar Lion and Tiger Tableau.

It was a cage wagon turned into a baggage wagon, and then they used it in parades.

- When they started to restore the wagon, took the old panels off and uncovered these beautiful paintings.

And I'm reproducing them to put back on the wagon.

I love to see the finished project.

- On any given day, in the winter storage barn at Circus World... - I think there's around 260 wagons, give or take.

- Joan's artwork can be found around every turn.

- The old woman who lives in a shoe wagon was quite lengthy because it had to be taken apart layer by layer and recarved, 'cause there was a lot missing.

To just do the gilding, I think I probably had around five, six months in it.

I was in tears, wondering if I was ever gonna get through it.

I swore I'd never do another one, but bring it on.

I'd love to do another one.

[laughs] When the gold shines, nothing shines brighter.

I like the Buffalo Bill wagon.

It's hard to really say which one is my favorite piece.

- Throughout the years, Joan says her appreciation for the artistry of circus wagons has grown.

- It's amazing what the guys can do in the wagon shop as far as rebuilding the wagons.

And then, I come in, and I'm the happy painter.

I get to make it shine with the finishing details.

Pretty soon, you've got 30, 40 years of projects behind you.

I never know what's gonna come through the door.

It's exciting!

I think they move together, too.

Oh, yeah, look at 'em go.

[laughs] I just think it's so rewarding to see people enjoying what I do.

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