Judy Schmidt - SOMEWHERE ELSE AND NEVER MORE HERE
I draw inspiration from the values and perspectives shaped by two very different biographical places. My father was born on the prairies and loved the earth, and my early influences of pioneering and hard work are reflected in the places I paint. My path to painting in the style of German expressionism was inspired by my Grandmother and Mother, who immigrated to the Canadian prairies from Germany after WWII.
My emotional connection to the cultural landscape of German expressionism and the physical landscape of the Canadian Prairies has greatly influenced my artistic process. I lay down solid, recognizable images, and then layer them with subtle elements of altered perspectives, quirky and unusual plays of colour. My work nurtures memories of life on the prairies, gardens, people who love the land, and family scenes.
I want the viewer to see something in the painting that they can’t escape. I want them to hear something they can’t ignore. I want to inspire them to be a little bit braver, a tad more curious, or a touch more hopeful.
My emotional connection to the cultural landscape of German expressionism and the physical landscape of the Canadian Prairies has greatly influenced my artistic process. I lay down solid, recognizable images, and then layer them with subtle elements of altered perspectives, quirky and unusual plays of colour. My work nurtures memories of life on the prairies, gardens, people who love the land, and family scenes.
I want the viewer to see something in the painting that they can’t escape. I want them to hear something they can’t ignore. I want to inspire them to be a little bit braver, a tad more curious, or a touch more hopeful.