Judy's Joy

Imagine, if you will, waking up every day and looking forward to finding out what inspiration will be put in your path today. What could you see or experience that would cause you such joy that you rush home to capture the feeling so that you can share it with others? Would it be a rose bush in bloom in November? A glorious pink sunset over the Pacific?

For those of us who have lived in California all or much of our lives, roses in November and gorgeous sunsets are, perhaps, taken for granted. But for Judy Shufro, who grew up in Massachusetts and spent most of her adult life in Manhattan, these are true natural wonders. Wonders to be cherished and to be shared.

The California colors and pace seem to agree with this East Coast native, who has adapted easily to the Southern California lifestyle. Never knowing what will inspire her is what gets Judy out of the house each day. "When I go outside there's a symphony, and I hear it with my eyes." That, simply put, is the joy that Judy Shufro finds in every day - the joy that fuels her creative energy and keeps her artistic expression ever-changing.

Moving to the West Coast has given Judy vast new sources of inspiration for her painting and other artwork. The fact that flowers are in bloom year-round still thrills her, and her home is filled with canvasses covered with local flowers captured in exquisite detail and brilliant, true colors. Judy's ability to portray people is one of her greatest talents; her caf頳cenes make the viewer want to sit down and join in the conversation.

Always looking to expand her artistic and cultural experiences, Judy spent two months in Japan studying Japanese art and artists. In addition to exploring new techniques she traveled extensively around the country to study the landscapes and the people. The result of her experiences was a collection of triptychs featuring typical Japanese subjects in a very untypical style. So unique and beautiful are these works that one was purchased by a former Curator of Far Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum in New York for her private collection.

An appreciation of tradition and an inherent need to continue growing artistically have recently taken Judy in another direction. After receiving a box full of family photos from her mother, she began to experiment with colorizing the photos using her PC. Suddenly the old black and white photos came to life in the most unexpected ways, and she realized that she could bring the past into the present while still preserving the pictures' original character. By combining modern art and traditional photography she discovered a unique approach to preserving her family history.

Whether painting friends or bringing a bit of history to life, this lovely woman's greatest gift is her ability to capture and share the joy she sees in the world around her. "I create art to give others the pleasure I have got in the making of it," she says with a smile.

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