JUDY OLSEN
Palo Verde Artists art club has chosen Judy Olsen as its Artist of the Month
for September. A native of New Jersey, Judy grew up close to the New York
metropolitan area, which was a short train ride from her home. Her parents
were well-educated and exposed Judy and her brother to the museums,
parks, and libraries there. She has always enjoyed drawing. Both of her
parents were artistic and her mom dabbled in oil painting and crewel
embroidery once she retired. Additionally, the grammar school
Judy attended believed in the well-rounded student and as part of learning
about fractions, she created a model home using particle board, which won
an award in a regional art show.
Her first year of college was at the University of Maine’s Portland School of
Art, where she studied Art Education. However, the program was
discontinued after her freshman year. She then attended Berkeley
Secretarial School in Manhattan and graduated with a certificate as an
Executive Administrative Assistant. Following graduation, Judy worked at
McCann Erickson Agency creating advertising. She later worked for Chinet
Paper as liaison with a contracted art studio that produced art for Chinet
Paper’s packaging. She remembers this as a vibrant, creative time. She
also worked for a short time as a talent scout, offering artists the
opportunity to sell their artwork online.
Following the passing of her husband, Judy was accepted to Pratt Institute,
where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design in
1984. In 1987, she moved to Glendale, Arizona, with her mother and her
daughter. She became involved in the Glendale arts community, serving on
the Glendale Art Commission and the Glendale Art Council. Following her
retirement from the corporate world, Judy moved to Sun City. She
discovered Palo Verde Artists club where she has taken classes and
volunteered her time. She served as hospitality chairperson for a number of
years and is currently heading up the nominating committee.
Judy loves all styles of art from Michelangelo to Peter Max. Her artwork
displays a variety of styles and media which include oil, acrylic, pen and
ink, paper art, abstract art and colored pencil, her favorite being colored
pencil. She has participated and won awards in the Sun City Art Show and
the Palo Verde Art Show.
In her spare time, Judy enjoys making greeting cards for charity, walking in
Rio Vista Park, growing orchids, and hosting a family of Harris Hawks in her
backyard.
