By /

Judy Sprague

Judy Sprague

I have loved working in art my entire life, beginning as a child always loving to draw people.  I was encouraged by my parents and my teachers,  and did enter the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1961 as an Art Major.  Life’s choices waylaid my studies and I finally completed my BA in Art in 1981 at Western State College in the beautiful Gunnison, Colorado.  Later, earning a Masters Degree in Counseling I worked in the field of Education at both the high school and college levels in both art instruction, counseling,  and administration until my retirement in 2002.

Since then I have focused on creating art and exhibiting in juried regional, national, and international art exhibitions.  To my joy, my art has been juried into over 89  exhibitions in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, Florida, Kansas,  and North Carolina, throughout the United States in Online Exhibitions,  and in the Paint America Top 100 and the Paint America Top Mini 50 earning numerous awards.

I am  proud to be an Associate Member of Women Artists of the West, Master Signature Member of Pastel Society of Colorado, Signature Member of Arizona Pastel Artists Association, and General Member Portrait Society of America.

judyspragueart@aol.com
https://www.judyspragueart.com

304 Hubbell Street
Berthoud, Colorado 80513

Ceremonial Beauty
Ceremonial Beauty

The rich history and culture of the indigenous people of North America including their beliefs, rituals, traditions and ceremonies are depicted here in my painting of a ceremonial rattle, pottery, antler pipe, & ceremonial tomahawk created in soft pastel on archival paper and custom framed to 18x23. These pipes of the indigenous peoples are traditionally used to offer prayers in a religious ceremony, to make a ceremonial commitment, or to seal a covenant or treaty.

15x20
Imagine their Stories
Imagine their Stories

The rich history and culture of the indigenous people of North America including their beliefs, rituals, traditions and ceremonies are depicted here in my painting of a ceremonial shield, white moccasins, tomahawk, rattle, and talking feather, image size 17x20 and custom framed to 20x23.5. In this painting I have included four feathers – feathers have long held a significant place in the lives of indigenous peoples, carrying messages of wisdom, strength, and connection to the divine.

18x22
Ceremonial Enchantment
Ceremonial Enchantment

The rich history and culture of the indigenous people of North America including their beliefs, rituals, traditions and ceremonies are depicted here in my painting of a ceremonial shield, antler pipe, moccasins, and rattle created in soft pastel on archival paper and custom framed to 20x20. One of the features in this painting is the shield. Not only were the feathers, beads, and paint on these shields for aesthetic purposes, but they held spiritual significance and represented the animal spirits that guided and protected the warriors. The painted patterns and symbols were used to communicate the warrior’s rank or accomplishments.

17x17
Tumacacori Pots
Tumacacori Pots

The beautiful Mission San Jose de Tumacacori is a historic Spanish mission near Nogales, Arizona, a partially preserved ruin. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. This is my mixed media painting (pastel, watercolor, and ink) of pottery I found there. This original painting measures 11x14 and has been custom matted and framed to 18x21 overall.

11x14