Judith Austen

https://www.austenarts.com/

Program Affiliations: Open Studio Tours Artist | Open Studios Tour 2023

Shadow-on-Edens-Pond-30w-20-h_2000_board

About Judith Austen

I’ve been a working artist my entire adult life, be it oil painting, writing, or knitting. Raised in the New York City area, I graduated with a BFA from Pratt Institute and an MFA from Boston University. Living on the Long Island Sound and later the New England coast, I oil painted seascapes on location, and in cold weather still lives my studio. I also work from photographs either taken by me or sent to me by friends. Making art is a process with no “right way,” the end result, a destination of discovery. For a larger view of my work, see my video on my web page: www.austenarts.com , press "about" and see my studio tour from 2021.

Judith Austen

Preferred Pronouns: She/ Her

https://www.austenarts.com/austen-arts

Petal by Petal

Gladiola

“Here, Kitty,” painted paper pulp, wall-hanging bas reliefs (in collaboration with Myrna H.)

Open Studio Tour

About the Process

Petal by Petal, oil on round canvas, framed 22”x 22”

When Russian troops entered Ukraine I was so rattled I did what I always do, sought something beautiful. On a visit to a nursery, a small cactus in oversize bloom called to me, its color a Ukrainian yellow. Unlike Ukraine with its own larger canvas,
the blossom was short-lived and complicated to paint. “Slowly slowly,” I told myself, petal by petal I allowed myself. Long after its blossom on prickly stem turned brown, its promise of renewal holds and glows, as does Ukraine.

Here Kitty
Painted Pulp is a collaboration between artists Myrna Helfenstein and Judith Austen. Myrna creates original sculptures from paper pulp, which Judith then paints. From whimsical wall-hanging cats, to oversized cupcakes and burgers, the humor and skill of these iconic pieces capture the eye.

Desert Contained
When I moved from Boston to Tucson six years ago, much as I appreciated the spaciousness of the desert, it felt vast and without borders. To achieve intimacy with this new landscape, I created a body of work I call, "Desert Contained." Be it their color, shape or texture, I chose cacti that intrigued me and planted them in pots.