Judy Morton Bramhall

 As an Art History major in college, I developed a passion for art. I appreciated both the visual and the story present in each piece. I’ve travelled for extended periods of time throughout my life, determined to visit every museum I could. After college, I worked for many years teaching Language Arts in elementary school, a creative endeavor in itself. Eventually, I had three children. As they grew, I began my personal exploration of art at local art centers and art schools.

My first visual obsession began with palm trees. The shapes, textures and colors of each palm tree mesmerized me, along with their joyful expressions of free and simple movement. For several years, I photographed them. I drew them. I painted them. I collaged them. They took on a life of their own.

My obsession moved to vessels. As I drew them over and over again, like the palm trees, they took on human-like qualities. There are crowds of vessels, in all colors, shapes and sizes, squished together fighting for space or perched side-by-side on a fence. There are pairings of vessels hanging out at the beach or sitting on a table or just being a vessel in space. There are families of every variety, some are social-distancing and some are not. Each painting speaks to me of life, of the various groupings and types of people we encounter daily. There are infinite combinations to explore, but mainly, I try to give each vessel a life and an environment of its own.

Each piece combines acrylic paint, gels, pastes and collage in varying degrees. I make art to bring joy to myself and ultimately, to others. Bright colors, intriguing textures and bold, simple shapes can be drawn and redrawn infinitely. I intend to continue this exploration forever.

I am grateful that my work now hangs on the prestigious walls of the Field Gallery, a gallery I’ve been visiting and admiring since the late ’70’s. When my children were young, there was nothing we enjoyed more than a visit to see Tom Maley’s giant playful sculptures and run around in the fields. Watching artists come and go over the past 40 years has inspired me to develop my own art, sneaking in visits regularly to find new inspiration from the ever-changing art that adorns every inch of the gallery’s walls.