Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 47 Luckily, the Jersey Shore, with its plethora of rivers, inlets, ponds, and coastline, provides plenty of inspira- tion. "I feel blessed to live in para- dise," she says. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, and a part-time resident of Florida for over thirty-five years, Judy Stach's intimate understanding of life along the shore is reflected in her oil paint- ings of seascapes and landscapes, which come alive with children at play, sailboats breezing by, and gar- deners lovingly tending to flowers. She also travels extensively, often by cruise ship, to get inspiration from different countries and cultures. Her style is impressionist/realist, painting from real life (en plein air) and photographs, often combining both techniques to complete a work using the full range of colors, values, and light found only in nature. "Plein air paintings move. There's nothing still about a still life when it's outside. It's like it sings," explains Judy. While painting outside may at first seem like a poetic ideal—fresh air, listening to the waves, feeling the sun on your body—the reality of blow- ing sand, biting insects, wind, heat, and sometimes rain can frighten off even the most stoic. "While painting in Florida, I've met wild boar, a rattle- snake…the alligators don't bother me anymore…at least it's not as scary in New Jersey," laughs Judy. "I have a lot of sand happen in my paintings quite naturally." Her skills have been honed over forty-five years, with influences from some of the greatest artists of our era as well as many masters of the past including Richard Schmid, Anthony Ventura, David Leffel, Timothy Thies, Joaquin Sorolla, and Anders Zorn. Judy's paintings have appeared in group and solo shows, and she has won numerous awards throughout the country. Her paintings have also been featured in many magazines and books. Judy is a member of the American Impressionist Society, the Salmagundi Club, Audubon Artists, Plein Air Florida, and is the founder/co- president of Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast. She is also an instructor and men- tor to other artists, giving workshops in New Jersey and Florida. Her collectors include individuals, corporations, national parks, munic- ipalities, colleges, and hospitals and health care facilities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Judy is currently represented by Frederick Galleries in Spring Lake, NJ, and WestWindFineArt.com in Keene, NH. For more information about the artwork of Judy Stach, visit www.JudyStach.com. "Low Tide III," 9" x 12", oil on canvas, 2015, Monmouth Beach continued on page 48

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