About the Artist
Judy Paxton Bruce was born in the small town of Danville, Illinois on a lake with forests and gardens in her backyard. Everyone knew, even when she was young, that Judy was an artist because of her constant coloring and drawing on the paper she dragged everywhere. From fourth grade on, her teachers sat her at the back of the classroom painting for local art contests. In college, as now, painting and printmaking were her favorites but after walking into the classroom, she fell in love with teaching and spent thirty-five years teaching elementary and junior high art. During that time she spent summers painting and had an antique and folk art business. Soon after retirement, Judy and her husband Jim moved to Cave Creek after falling in love with its beauty and serenity. Judy now paints and works with mixed media full time in her studio on Galloway Wash.
1968—BFA, Illinois Wesleyan University, Major/painting, Minor/education
1968-2001—Elementary and Junior High art teacher, Skokie, IL, winning the Kohl International Teaching Award of Excellence, the Illinois State Board of Education’s “Those Who Excel Award” and the Marjorie Wedel Award.
2009—Five prints were chosen for the “Printmaker’s Show” at the Center
1979—Northern Illinois University summer MFA program
1984—Interdisciplinary Arts Masters Degree-Loyola University, Chicago
1984—TDK “Japan Trails ‘*5” won trip to Japan with student
2005—Z Gallery, Rhode Island, “heARTGoes Red for Women” show
2005—Herberger Theater Art Show “Not Just Another Pretty Face”
2005-2021—Host Studio for Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour
2007-2008—Chairman of the Visual Arts Cave Creek Fine Arts Festival
2008—Herberger “Impritur” Art Show, Phoenix
2007-2010—President of the Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival
2009—Five prints were chosen for the “Printmaker’s Show” at the Center
2009—Six paintings chosen for exhibition at the Center Show, Scottsdale, AZ
2009—Three miniature art works chosen to be exhibited at the “Small Works Show”, Sonoran Arts League Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ
2010—Prize Winner “Small Works Show” for “Mike”
2010—Level 9 Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ, 2-man show
2010—Solo Exhibition for Annie Lloyd-May, Scottsdale, AZ
2013—Cover Artist for Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour
2013—Represented by Harvey Pranian Art & Antiques, Chicago, IL
2013—Article in Images AZ, November.
2014—Best in Show, Brio Gallery at Foothills Foundation
2015--2020--Van Gogh's Ear Gallery, Prescott, AZ
2015---One person show at Adornments, Scottsdale, AZ
2015---Printmaking Today Show, Holland Center Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2016—Art Talk Show, Holland Center, Scottsdale, AZ
2016—Gallery at El Ped, Scottsdale, AZ
2016—Exhibited “Art Objects” Gallery, Carefree, AZ
2017—“Small Works Show” Grotto, Cave Creek, AZ
2005—2021--Studio Host Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour
2015--2021--Chairman of the Desert Foothills Library Art Committee
2017--Prize Winner-Small Works Show, Cave Creek, AZ
2018--Blue Gem Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ
2018--2021--Adelante Gallery, Carefree, AZ
2019--Prize Winner, Arizona Art Alliance Show
2020--1st Prize Winner in the Small Works Show