The Artist
Judi Power Thomson
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Judi studied at the National Art School (East Sydney Tech) in Sydney for four years before relocating to Canberra where she continued her studies at the Canberra School of Art, followed by 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 (Runner-Up), The Percivals, 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, Director, 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 “Canberra Times Outdoor Art Show”, Guest Artist, 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” – South Coast Artists, 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