"The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art is telling you to take your time. Always listen to the art." -Junot Diaz
I remember seeing Claude Monet's lily pond series in a high school art class. I was fascinated by his use of color. I still am amazed every time I see his work.(Fall 2022 while in France, I am fulfilling a bucket list item by going to his house which is an hour outside of Paris).
In my 20's I went to an art class with a friend and enjoyed it. However, the demands of family life and a fulltime job happily consumed me until I retired in 2015. Urged on by a desire to create, I took an art class at the local community center and fell in love again.I haven't stopped painting and experimenting since.I am always thinking about painting, finding shapesand coloursin my surroundings, imagining how would I use an interesting vase, flower, or dish in my next composition. That is how I came to create my most recent group of paintings.
For example, the latest series of birds with glass jars and foliage came together when we were antique browsing, a person can only bring so many home. The Bird and Teacup series galvanized when I cleaned out my cupboards of the tea cups handed down from my grandmother, aunt, and mom. I got the idea to document them through paintings but was not sure how. Then looking at the teacups while I listened to the birds outside my kitchen window it seemed a natural fit to create the playful interactions between them as now depicted in the series.
I grew up in Nova Scotia and played near and in the sea daily. My love of the ocean inspired me to explore this with The Water Group series. And The Toys series was born of my grandson's enthusiasm for the paintings I made of his favorite toys.
My painting subjects may change as I change.I am always looking and thinking what to make next andI cannot wait to see where this new chapter of life will take me.
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Come join me on my painting journey as I capture moments in time, which may also jog your memories, as I share the delight of discovery and invite you to smile along with me.
Judy
