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Flour Power!

“Flour Power” In 2020 many people turned to the soothing art of baking while in lockdown. Here is my still life with my baking tools, instead of vases of flowers.

A few things happened during the pandemic. People, unable to go out, to entertain turned to cooking and crafts and art. I have always baked my own bread. One day I went to the store and not a single bag of flour was to be found, the same for yeast. I found alternate sources and instead of buying yeast by the jar, I had to buy it by the pound from commercial sites. I learned to bake with Einkorn flour and learned the nuances of the different types of artisanal flours and raised my baking to a new level. The scent of bread in the house made us feel secure, and the loaves that came out of my oven, eased the fears we might not be able to get one or another item. Still lives are usually done with flowers in elaborate silver vases on rich tablecloths. But during the pandemic, flour had power.

“Flour Power!” Oil on Canvas 22″ X 22″ by Judy Challis.

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2021 art Covid 19 Art Original Art Biography Uncategorized

Intermission

“Intermission” Oil on Canvas. I originally painted this solely as a background, but as I sat in front of it, about to paint some detail on top, I just felt soothed by the colors and the motion of the brush strokes. The painting said “I am, as I am, enough.” So after the Covid panic and the wild election season of 2020, a calm intermission. Let’s hope the play has a ending that pleases all.

“Intermission” Oil on Canvas by Judy Challis 2021
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Owls and Birds

Birds and Owls

When I paint birds and owls, I look at how they interact with other animals and other birds. And then I think of how humans interact. Often we have modified our means of communication and travel so we communicate far beyond the local territory that constrains a bird.

Some of my paintings are meant to open the door to discussion, such as Hash-tag Hoot where the father owl is tweeting #Hoot on his cell phone. Or Odd Birds in the Family Tree, where in the same painting are found American Owls and owls found on far flung continents.

Here I have collected a few of them. Enjoy!

I admit, a few bears, and foxes and other critters snuck into the gallery as well.

Hash-Tag Hoot

Spin

My Cold Toes

Soar

Foxy Gets Married in the Enchanted Forest

The Trickster (aka Foxy) in Love.

In Your Dreams

Owl Power

(Painting not availble, donated for fund raising to the Ridgefield Guild of Artists)

Odd Birds in the Family Tree

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Big Ben

Finally completed, I present to you The Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 to mark the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Big Ben, is the largest bell within it and weighs 16 tons.

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Brewster, NY- A History of Now

The first painting completed in 2018. This is oil on canvas and the title is “The Last Customer” It is of Bob’s Diner in #Brewster, NY. I’m painting some of the buildings that will be demolished when they build our new town center in a couple of years, as we will not see their like again. Small theaters, 50’s diners, and Pool Halls.

Brewster, New York is a village within the Town of Southeast.  They are going to renovate the village in late 2018-19.   They will knock down several historic buildings, including a 50’s Diner (Bob’s Diner) a Pool Hall and the old Cameo Theater.  I plan to paint them each before they are gone.

Here is the Last Customer, the interior of Bob’s Diner in Brewster, NY

 

 

Bobs diner in Brewster NY
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Original Art Biography Techniques

Painting with a Circular Composition – The Cobb Lyme Regis – A Safe Harbor and Lavender in the Hills

My husband is from the south coast of England and loves the area.   I decided to paint one of his favorite landmarks in the area, The Cobb.   I do have a mantra to “paint what you know” and I haven’t been there. So I did some reading on the Cobb and also found a You Tube video that allowed me to visit.   Here is the video.

After getting to know my subject I used a circular composition to which this well suited.  I like my landscapes to have an abstract element.  This is also oil on board.  I like how the paint sits on top of the board (I used a marble gesso and allowed it to dry for several weeks before painting) and allows the light to refract through. The title of this is “Safe Harbor”.

safe harbor

The Cobb is a naturally circular structure.  I decided to use the same composition in an entirely different format.  Here is Lavender in the Hills, another circular composition.

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Collective expressions

I was honored to be included in Collective Expressions, a juried group show of Northern Westchester Arts Guild Members at the Art and Sound Gallery in Greenwich, Ct.  The show will be running for the next six weeks throughout September 2016 and I believe early October.

judy

 

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Art Around Town 2016

I had a wonderful time showing some of my work at Art Around Town in Chappaqua, New York.   My paintings will be up at Noelle Marie Photography at 140 King Street until the end of June.   There are more than 30 other artists of the Northern Westchester Artists’ Guild showing at merchants about the town..  Do stop by and see our work.

judy facebook

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Light and Nature

This series is an exploration of light in nature.

Morning light

Dawn

Beyond

Farther

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A Soft Vision

Lately I’ve been playing with paint to express emotion and a softness of vision. I rather like how these pieces are coming out. Take a look.

I call this one Beyond and it was inspired by a train ride through the Alps.

I worked another version of it in “Memories on a Train” below.

I liked how Beyond came out, but I admit I love color. So I did “Farther”.

I continued in this vein with a slightly more fanciful topic in “Enchanted”.

I think I’m going to explore this “soft view” approach for a year or so and see where it takes me.