The reason Judi Marie paints can be best understood by the response that clients have to her paintings. To quote one of her clients, “Judi Marie is a true artist! I couldn’t believe the emotions her painting stirred in me! I knew I had to purchase it immediately.”
Judi Marie’s earliest memory of art was when, at the age of 4, she received a gift of an artist smock and easel. She was further encouraged by her mother and her grade school and high school teachers. Sister Mary Maurita, art teacher and mentor, insured that she was enrolled all the art classes the high school had to offer.
Artistic recognition came during her high school time when she had a linoleum block print selected for exhibit in an international juried art competition as a Senior in High school. She participated in her first ever artist reception. Additionally, she was selected as the art student who would create a mural for the hall of the school.
A great disappointment came upon graduation from high school when discovering the actual cost of art school, and she was discouraged by the limited possibilities to earn a living through art. She then proceeded to further her family, her traditional schooling, and employment in business administration and law.
During her career life, Judi Marie attended workshops in Chicago, Asheville and Boone North Carolina, and Columbia South Carolina. She studied under artists from Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Although employed in her chosen career fields of business administration and law, she was able to offer artistic services by way of graphic design, illustration and murals to small businesses and individuals.
Her love of art was never forgotten, and during her higher education, while taking an art class from an art teacher, she was encouraged to submit a piece of her work for a juried exhibit. While this provided another opportunity to attend another artist reception, it only continued to fuel her interest, but did nothing to allow her more time to pursue art.
Now, fully retired from business and law, Judi Marie is free to pursue her life-long dream of creating art that matters, and is actively painting and selling her paintings.