Featured Artist for July 1997
Freedom is the sweeping gesture depicted in this contemporary figure with long, flowing hair. A look deeper shows a face behind her, perhaps edging her on towards her own freedom. The artist has framed this worked for the winners enjoyment !
Meet the Artist She has an interesting back ground and a great sense of humor! There is spirituality in her art with unconscious movement going on to make you think more about the work and your own life. Judy's paintings invite the viewer to participate intimately with each glance. Her history of working with the severely mentally ill in therapeutic art groups flavors her work at times. She's taught art privately and has memories of students actually getting into their work -- reporting that one student actually sat on her pallette ! And an off beat quick story -- One of her Professors, a rather interesting being, had her run over her art work with her car. What a way to interact with your work ! Judy loves canoeing and camping and tries to fit things into her life around painting, raising two teenage daughters and running her business. She has dreams to move, at least part-time, to a studio near the ocean. She finds the sea draws her as a source of meditation and rejuvenation. She has a deep curiosity and a wild imagination and believes a major part of making art is about making choices. You'll find her painting usually during the day light hours.
About The Artist Judy also finds it interesting that being a full-time artist lets you spontaneously create authentically from the heart. It may, at times, narrow the audience, but when the individual connects with the art, they truly do connect. She finds it's one thing to create what we see (a mirror image of a picture)--but to stumble upon creating what exists in archetypal patterns or collective consciousness is quite accidental. Artists have to make choices within their creative process and must take great risks which often leave them in a vulnerable position. Artists and their audience can connect with the art when it comes from a spontaneous core. And you'll find this in Judy's work. Not everyone can live with an emotional evocative work of art hanging on the wall-but appreciation for the art is always forthcoming in the growth process.
Judy works in a variety of mediums including layered pastels, tempera, oils, acrylics and mixed media. She's devoted many years to portraiture using methods of the Italian Renaissance Masters and has recently gained recognition for her fluid, graceful semi-abstract renderings. The images that Judy creates are greatly influenced by her Sicilian heritage, symbols, cross cultural interpretations of Creation Myths and other Folktales. She uses bright ribbons of color in a variety of mediums. Her visual narratives range from semi-abstract to realism.
Group Exhibitions 1991 Stockton Savings
Bank; Jackson, CA, USA Individual Shows 1997 Favorites
of the Foothills; Auburn, CA USA International Shows 1996 Spirituality
Expressed In Art, Something Different Fine Art; Sutter Creek, USA Regional & National Shows
1997 Old Town Gallery; Auburn, CA USA Affiliations Art Without Borders,
An International Artists Forum Reviews 1997 Reviewed "Freedom"
lithograph in Decor Magazine-Showcase, February 97 issue.
Many are familiar with the traditional myth of Medusa - and with due respect, my rewritten contemporary medusa has a different slant. She is, by far, a beauty who is having the ultimate BAD HAIR DAY. Her hair is so healthy it hisses- however she shall never turn one to stone. Her thousand mile stare will draw those who glance at her much closer to her as well as to themselves.
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Artist Statement I love to spark the imagination of the viewer with new and unique vibrant visual impressions of ordinary objects and life forms. I paint lavender pears and blue violins that radiate life's contrarieties as well as lifes rhythms. Ultimately I hope to convey a sense of grace, humor and fun in the images that I create. ~ Judy Bird |