Judy Woods

Judy Woods was born in Rotorua, New Zealand in 1963 and lived there until she left to study at Waikato University when she was 18. After one year she transferred to Otago Polytech where she studied Fine Arts for three years, graduating with a Degree in Fine Arts in 1985. She went on to get a Teaching Diploma in 1987 and worked in Art Education for 15 years. Judy finds her inspiration in the process of painting intuitively. She sets the stage for unpredictable combinations of the accidental and intentional as she combines loosely applied paint alongside controlled intricate pattern or linear formations, saturated and muted colour combinations, thin glazes with thick brushstrokes, and then drawing into the paint with dry media. Her process involves building the paintings in layers in response to marks, colours, shapes and passages that resonate. Finally, Judy orchestrates line, shape and colour to create a balanced complex design that draws the viewer close and then reveals the unexpected in the richness of the surface. Judy has won numerous National Awards in New Zealand: 2019 Tasman National Art Awards – Judge’s commendation; 2019 Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Awards – Winner of the Zinnie Douglas Merit Award; 2020 Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Awards – Premiere Award; 2020 Taranaki National Art Awards – TSB Painting Award; 2020 Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition – Finalist; 2021 Cleveland National Art Awards – Merit Award; 2021 Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition – 1 st Place Juried by Juan Kelly. She exhibits her work in London and New Zealand and Judy’s work is held in private collections in New Zealand, Australia, USA, UK and Europe.