About – Artist’s Statement

Judith Shaw, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, has been interested in myth, culture and mystical studies all her life.

Originally from New Orleans, she has traveled in Mexico, Central America, China, Europe and Greece and lived in Mexico and Greece. The passion and bright colors of many of these places have affected her palette and style.   Judith currently resides in New Mexico, where the golden glow and crisp blue skies continue to influence her color and style.

Artist’s Statement

“As a young girl, seeing old oak trees with moss hanging and sun glistening on the grass evoked deep feelings of connection to the cosmos. I longed to lie on the bright grass, embrace the earth and feel time disappear.   This same feeling surges up in me as I paint.  Brushing yellow gold on top of deep crimson, I sense the paints coming alive, even as I feel myself moving outside of ego, outside of time, and inside to my deepest source.

It is this experience, and  my desire to express a belief that our bodies and souls are one whole within an interconnected web of life, which keeps me returning to my studio.  My inspirations entwine the ancient wisdoms of many cultures with the deep beauty of the natural world, like my work The Olive Tree. With its silver green leaves dancing lightly in contrast to its heavy dark trunk, this olive tree becomes all trees as the resplendent, ancient symbolism of life itself.

I walk into my studio alive with a sense of wonder at the unknown. Ancient ideas and symbols merge, and emerge, on my canvass, as did my series on the Sumerian Goddess, Inanna. The work became a visual interpretation of her energy, with her power growing right out of the painting process.  A random splatter of paint reveals an eye. Scratching into the paint with a palette knife defines a hip. A scumble of  light color plays over the splatters and scratches, creating texture for depth and light.

My process becomes a courtship between control and letting go. Like my younger self who longed to let go and embrace the earth, now I embrace an endless fascination with the magic of creating jewel-toned paintings that feed my soul.