Hello! I am an artist from Las Cruces, New Mexico, who loves capturing the beauty of the desert Southwest with my acrylic paints.
I was a fine arts major at Ohio State University and completed a Bachelor of Arts at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a Master of Arts at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
I taught art at the high school level before entering the corporate world, where I spent 28 years in a variety of leadership positions. During my business career, on the side I enjoyed picking up my brushes, illustrating various publications for civic organizations and creating the drawings for a children's book written by a friend.
After retiring and moving to the Southwest, I was able to finally concentrate on my art again! I have studied with Annetta Hoover, Mary Zawacki and Nancy Frost Begin. The beautiful desert colors -- rich terracottas, greens, purples, blues, reds, golds and oranges -- are found in my work, which includes landscapes, historic buildings,
still lifes and figures. People call me a "colorist" and I guess I am. Maybe you'll agree!
One of my greatest honors was being asked to do an eight-painting commission for the ICU in the new University Children's Hospital of El Paso, Texas. I am currently represented by the Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery in Mesilla, New Mexico, and my work can be found in numerous public and private collections in North America and Europe.
All text and images copyright Judy Bess 2021
About the Artist
"Fandango"
