The Artist

Judi Power Thomson

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Judi studied at the National Art School in Sydney for several years before moving to Canberra where she continued her studies at the Canberra School of Art with advanced studies in South Carolina, USA and Taos, New Mexico. She has been a finalist in such prestigious exhibitions as the (international) Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Prize, the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize and the Mortimore and Calleen Art Awards earning two Best of Show prizes.

“Judi paints with energy and colour, imbuing her works with life through line and movement. A 20 year career as a commercial interior designer has strongly influenced her paintings with most works incorporating strong design elements. Judi is an accomplished artist in numerous mediums and has won many awards including first prizes in watercolour, oil, acrylic and mixed media”.

David MacLaren, Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013 Wild Visions – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, Bungendore, NSW

2011 Home & Away – South Hill Gallery, Goulburn, NSW

2010 Hot Colours – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

2007 The Good Life – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

2003 Take Note – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

SHARED EXHIBITIONS

2020 Lanyon Homestead – Magpie Gallery, Dirty Janes, Canberra.

2019 Metamorphosis – Belconnen Arts Centre

2014 Lake, Forest, Sky – Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra, ACT

2012 Director’s Choice – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

2011 A Breath of Fresh Art – Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick, ACT

2008 Weereewa Works on Paper – Bungendore Wood Works Gallery

2004 The Lovers Series – Cuppacumbalong Galleries, ACT

2004 The Canberry Painters – Forest Gallery, South Durras, NSW

2004 Guest Artist – Canberra Times Outdoor Art Show, Canberra City

2003 The Unhung Heroes – Exhibition of Archibald Prize entries, Made From Australia Galleries, Canberra

2003 Voices of Silence – The Forest Gallery, South Durras, NSW

2002 The Canberry Painters – Marymead Exhibition, Narrabundah, ACT

2002 The Unhung Heroes – Made From Australia Galleries, ACT

2001 Point to Point Artists – Exhibition, Bawley Point, NSW

2001 The Canberry Painters – Marymead Exhibition, Narrabundah, ACT

2001 The Canberry Painters – Backbenchers, Old Parliament House. ACT

ACHIEVEMENTS

2019

Artist in residence, Lanyon Homestead, Lanyon, ACT.

Teaching and Exhibiting, Belconnen Arts Centre, ACT

2012

Portia Geach Memorial Art Award finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney

John Copes Portrait Prize finalist, Bowral, NSW

Second Prize, Sydney Royal Art Show, for excellence in Australian Birds.

The Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award finalist

“Synaesthesia”
A performance with Master Cellist David Pereira and artist Kerry McInnis at the Oddfellows Hall, Yass NSW. Painting to the music and composing/playing to the art.

2011

Portia Geach Memorial Art Award finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney

2010

Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award finalist, Bega Valley Regional Gallery

Portia Geach Memorial Art Award finalist, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney

Calleen Art Award finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery, Cowra, NSW

Goulburn Art Award finalist, Goulburn Regional Gallery, Goulburn.

2009

Mortimore Art Prize finalist, Dubbo, NSW

Calleen Art Award finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery, Cowra, NSW

Goulburn Art Award finalist, Goulburn Regional Gallery, Goulburn.

2008

Winner – Brindabella Art Award (now the Tuggeranong Art Prize) Tuggeranong Arts Centre, ACT

Winner – Goulburn Traditional Art Prize, Goulburn, NSW

Runner Up – Shirley Hannan National Portrait Awards, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, NSW

Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize finalist, South Australian Museum, SA.

Berkelouw Self Portrait Prize finalist, Bowral, NSW

Mortimore Art Prize (Travelling Exhibition) finalist, Dubbo-Sydney-Bungendore

2007

Lexus Mortimore Art Prize finalist, Dubbo, NSW

2006

Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award finalist, Bega Valley Regional Gallery.

2005

Best of Show – Artists Society of Canberra Annual Exhibition (over 630 paintings)

Second Prize – Royal Canberra Show, mixed media.

Walkom Manning Art Prize finalist, Manning Regional Gallery.

Canberra Art Award finalist, Canberra.

2004

Canberra Art Award finalist Canberra

Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award finalist, Bega Valley Regional Gallery.

Third Prize – Artists Society of Canberra Annual Exhibition.

Bega Art Award finalist, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Bega. NSW

2003

Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award finalist, Bega Valley Regional Gallery

Judges Award – Goulburn & District Art Award, Goulburn

First Prize – Bega Art Awards for Acrylic Painting, Bega Valley Regional Gallery

Cowra Arts Festival finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery, Cowra, NSW

Third Prize – Acrylic Painting, Artists Society of Canberra Annual Exhibition

Canberra Art Award finalist, Canberra.

2002

Champion Exhibit – Royal Canberra Show Art Section

First Prize – Oil & Acrylic Painting, Royal Canberra Show

First Prize – Mixed media, Royal Canberra Show

Second Prize – Artists Society of Canberra Annual Exhibition, prints.

Bega Art Award finalist, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Bega. NSW

Cowra Arts Festival finalist, Cowra Regional Gallery, Cowra, NSW

2001

First Prize – Artists Society of Canberra Annual Exhibition for Mixed Media

First Prize – Royal Canberra Show for Colour Photography, Portrait.

Highly Commended – Bega Art Awards, Bega Valley Regional Gallery

First Prize – Richardson Art Exhibition Canberra for Mixed Media

First Prize – Richardson Art Exhibition Canberra for Acrylic painting

COLLECTIONS

Canberra School of Music, ACT

Illoura Residential Aged Care, Wangaratta, VIC

Clare Holland House, ACT

Meyer Vandenberg, ACT

Various Solicitors, Dentists, Doctors and Accounting firms, ACT

Private collections in England, Ireland, Norway, Canada, Italy and U.S.A.

REPRESENTED BY

Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, Bungendore, NSW

TEACHING

Judi has been teaching art at the Belconnen Arts Centre in Belconnen, A.C.T. since 2010. Weekly classes have included sketching groups, drawing in all media, mixed media, landscape and figurative works. Two day masterclasses have focused on creating wildlife in mixed media, portraits with various textures and collage, photo transference and Simplifying the Landscape.

PUBLICATIONS

“Dancing with the Artist”, Australian Artist Magazine, No.282, Dec.2007

“In the Shadow of the Brindabellas”, Capital Chemist annual calendar

“Untamed World’s Captured”. The Canberra Times, Nov.5, 2013

“Calm in the Wild” by Diana Streak. The Canberra Times Capital Life, No.9, 2013

“Canberra’s Most Loved Artists”. Canberra Weekly Magazine, Oct.11, 2012

Cover artwork and editorial by Julieanne Strachan. The Canberra Times “Times 2”, Sept.27, 2012

“Canberra Celebrates” by Lyn Mills. The Canberra Times – About Town. Sept.7, 2012.

“Eyes aimed at Archer” by Helen Musa. City News, March 1, 2012 plus Front Cover

Editorial by Diana Streak. The Canberra Times – Panorama. Sept.10, 2011.

“Farm Girl Pru in Archie portrait” by David Butler. Goulburn Post, April 6, 2011

Cover artwork for Byron Bay art workshops brochure, September 2005, March 2006.

“Portrait Pleases” by Helen Musa. The Canberra Times Arts & Entertainment, Nov.24, 2006.

“Lovers on Canvas” by Philip O’Brien. The Canberra Times CT Magazine. Feb.2004.

“The Power of Music” by Ron Cerabona. The Canberra Times “Times Out”, Feb. 27, 2003.

Portrait of author Timoshenko Aslanides on cover of “Letterature; Verse letters from Australian Women”

All artwork featured in Arts Around Canberra -Musical Theatre 2003 brochure.

“They did not make it but now they are hung” by Norma Allen. The Canberra Times, July 2, 2002

“Raising the Stakes” by Ron Cerabona. The Canberra Times – Arts. May 2, 2002.

“Spring Painters in Bloom”. The Chronicle Entertainer. Sept. 25, 2001.

Biography

My earliest memory of painting is sitting with my grandfather at age 3. We were using pastels o

n the reverse side of embossed wallpaper which was full of lumps, hollows and texture. Thus began my passionate journey into a world of colour, texture and experimentation with all mediums.

My first two years of formal art training was at St.George Technical College in Kogarah, NSW in the late 60’s followed by three years at East Sydney Tech (now the National Art School) Sydney. After travelling and working overseas in London as a private secretary, I then moved to Canberra where I continued my art studies part time for the next 16 years. During this time I also worked full time as a graphic designer for J. B Youngs and Rogers, both large department stores.

During the late 70’s and early 80’s I undertook many private portrait commissions in Canberra and am still accepting new commissions of both adults and children. These are not included on the website due to privacy issues.

In the 1980’s further full-time studies and qualifications led to a 20 year career as a commercial interior designer running my own business, all the while painting and exhibiting.

In 2002 I returned to painting as my primary occupation while also being a board member of Canberra Arts Marketing. I have been further involved with the development and promotion of the local art scene as president of the Artists Society of Canberra, Secretary and editor for four years of their newsletter. I have also been invited to judge art exhibitions at the Canberra Show, M16 Art Space as well as Ulladulla, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Batemans Bay and Cooma in NSW.

I have been fortunate to travel to South America, Africa, Egypt, Ireland, England, China, France, Italy, Canada, Greece, Japan, Botswana, and in Australia the Flinders Ranges, the McDonell Ranges, the Pilbara, the Kimberleys, Broome and Alice Springs. I have more recently done advanced studies in South Carolina and Taos New Mexico in the USA. The colour and excitement of all these places has influenced my work.

My work is on display in private collections at the Canberra School of Music, Illoura Residential Aged Care, Wangaratta Victoria, Clare Holland House in Canberra and many legal, dental and medical practices. Paintings are also displayed in England, Ireland, Norway, Canada, New York and Canberra and has been reproduced in Australian Artist magazine, The Canberra Times, the Chronicle, Capital Magazine, City News, and the 2003 and 2004 tourism brochures “Arts Around Canberra” and Musical Theatre Calendar.

For the past six years, and continuing, I have been running classes in various media at the Belconnen Arts Centre. During this time we moved from our vineyard in Wallaroo, NSW into Canberra North.

Currently I am assisting with the Painting with Parkinsons, run weekly at the Botanical Gardens in Canberra.

I work in my own studio at my home in Ainslie, Canberra.

ART and DESIGN STUDIES

1963-67 – Art Certificate Course St.George and East Sydney Technical colleges (now the National Art School, Sydney)

1967-71 – Moved to Canberra and continued studying Life Drawing, Oil Painting and Abstract Design & Colour at the Canberra Technical College.

1978-80 – Life Drawing and Portrait Painting with Charles Tompson at Canberra School of Art

1981 – Composition and Colour with Janenne Eaton, Canberra School of Art

1982 – Watercolour painting with Debbie Perrow, Canberra School of Art

1982,83 – Figure Painting with Charles Tompson, Canberra School of Art

1984-87 – Interior Design Diploma, Canberra Institute of Technology.

1995 – Screen Printing with Gary Shinfield, Canberra School of Art.

1996 – Etching with Gaye Paterson, Canberra School of Art

1998 –

“Art as a Visual Voice” with Elisa Crossing, Canberra School of Art

2001 – Mixed Media with Judith White, University of Southern Queensland

2002-6 – Further studies with Patrick Carroll, Neil Taylor, Judith White and Rex Backhaus-Smith

2007 – Watermedia Studies with Alex Powers and Carla O’Connor, South Carolina, USA.

2010 – Intensive Studies Residency with Alex Powers, Taos, New Mexico

2013 – Natural plant dying of cloth with India Flint, New Zealand.

2018 – Wildlife drawing with Chris McClelland, Summer Art Experience, Canberra.

2018 – Understanding Abstract painting with Julie Bradley, M16, Canberra.

2019 – Abstract Art and Mixed Media with Tracey Creighton, Summer Art Experience, Canberra

2019 – Wildlife Drawing & Photography with Chris and Margie McClelland, Botswana.

CONTACTS

Email: judi@shadowshill.com.au

Phone: 0407 008 407