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"Kunik" |
"Fire and Steel" |
"In Dreams" |
"Elusion - Barn Owl" |
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"Kunik" |
"Fire and Steel" |
"In Dreams" |
"Elusion - Barn Owl" |
Judy Cooper was born in Paris, France, but grew up in Montreal and then Ottawa after her father's military career brought her family to Canada. She has always loved to sketch and draw, especially animals, and found many subjects among childhood pets. As a young adult, Judy enrolled in the Visual Arts program at the University of Ottawa, in hopes of becoming an artist. The experience brought mixed results. An expanded exposure to art, as well an introduction to the work of Robert Bateman, set the stage for her current focus on realistic portrayals of nature and wildlife. At the same time, the prospect of earning a living solely based on art seemed a daunting one, and she transferred from the art program to investigate interests that were more "practical".
Her passion for nature, science and athletics caused Judy to hold a variety of jobs in the fitness industry while pursuing studies in biology and Engineering. Eventually, she accepted a position with a software company and relocated to Waterloo, Ontario. During this period, she continued with her art, concentrating almost exclusively on realism and portraiture.
In the winter of 2005, Judy began to build a body of work, concentrating on her first loves - animals and Nature. This resulted in her paintings being juried into the prestigious Buckhorn Fine Art Festival. The response to her work has been very positive and her unique style is beginning to attract the attention of collectors.
”I feel the role of a wildlife or nature artist is to present the natural world in a way that expands the viewer's appreciation or understanding of it. To do this, I feel the art must portray the subject in a unique way, while still allowing people to connect with it through memory and emotion. In my paintings, I try to create a scene that could not be photographed easily. This might be a scene that verges on fantasy, or something that draws attention to a new aspect of what is already familiar. Both are challenges I enjoy and hope to use in service of the Earth’s natural wonders.”
