Cherries and Roses by Lita Judge |
Lita Judge
In 1993 California painter Lita Judge was successfully ensconced in a career as a geologist. Then fate intervened in the form of a trip to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and a gift from her husband—a painting workshop. “Dinosaur digs were exciting, but geology wasn’t a burning passion,” Judge says. “When I saw the paintings at the Met, I knew I had to be a part of that world. Then the workshop showed me how.” Soon after the two experiences, Judge quit her job to pursue her dreams. In 1999 and 2000 she received the prestigious John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship awarded by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK, to talented painters under 35 to help them pursue art. Whether it’s a figurative work, still life, or European cityscape, a Judge work is often marked by a rich palette and expressionistic brushwork. “I have realized that creating art is an act of faith—faith in yourself, having the patience to explore new directions and break away from old patterns,” Judge says. Currently she is preparing works for a show that opens May 2 at Robson Gallery in San Diego, CA. She is also represented by James J. Rieser Fine Art, Carmel, CA. —BG
Ernie’s Bowl With Fuyus by Kathryn Miller |
Kathryn Miller
“Everyone should have a passion in life,” Kathryn Miller says. “Art has always been mine.” During the 14 years she spent as a flight attendant for a charter company, she used her lengthy layovers to soak up the art of many cultures while also learning to create her own. Miller fondly remembers the days she spent exploring such inspirational spots as the temples of India and the museums of Paris, always adding to her sketchbook. Rembrandt and Henri Fantin-Latour have always been her favorite artists, and their influence can be seen in her work. Since 1995 she has studied with Ernest Baber and David Leffel, artists for whom she has great respect. Although “it’s a challenge with a 15-year-old child,” she laughs, Miller has finally been able to devote herself full time to her artistic passion. “And every time I sit down at the easel, I feel like I have come home—creating a painting touches my true self,” she says. “I am finally me.” Miller is represented by Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, and Gallery Americana, Carmel, CA. —BD
Apple Cider by Judy Crowe |
Judy Crowe
Native Texan Judy Crowe says she used to draw when she was little and thought she might become a designer, perhaps of women’s clothes. Some 20 years ago she took two art lessons from a neighbor and enjoyed them, but it wasn’t until 1990 that she began taking lessons and painting full time. Since she’s also a full-time mother, Crowe often paints still lifes that she sets up in her home studio. “I like to go shopping for things to paint in antique stores, which is where I found the brown jug in Apple Cider,” she says. “It was great to paint because it reflects so many different colors under the light.” Crowe dislikes using photographs and always paints from life, whether the subject is a still life, a model, or a landscape near her home. She has studied with Ted Goerschner, Dan Gerhartz, Tom Browning, William Kalwick, and Kevin Macpherson and is a member of the Oil Painters of America. Crowe is represented by Texas Art Gallery, Dallas, TX; NanEtte Richardson Fine Art, San Antonio, TX; and the Gallery at Mid Lane, Houston, TX. —KB
Featured in “Artists to Watch” April 2001