American Conceptual Artist Jenny Holzer's LED signs have dominated large metropolitan cities' urban landscapes and skylines for decades. The signs are eye-catching in brilliance, colorfully electric, actively thought-provoking, and impossible to ignore. Electrifying images and fun provocative jewelry with intensely pure color is the talent of local artist Judith Rothenstein-Putzer. Born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, NY, Judith hung up her snow blower over twenty years ago and moved to the “Valley of the Sun” Phoenix, Arizona. An Occupational Therapist by profession and a creative spirit by inspiration, Judith immediately found employment in home health and the public school system while remaining vigilant for the next soul-satisfying move.
Judith and her sister were encouraged to create their games, toys, crafts, and party decorations by their mother, who understood the value of an unfettered imagination during her childhood years. Along with their father's keen eye for the preciseness of diamond cutting, the girls acquired a balance of wildness with attention to detail. As a teen, Judith took her love of crafts into working at summer camp, where she shared her enthusiastic creativity with younger campers. Upon completing high school, Judith started Brooklyn College with full intentions of becoming a kindergarten teacher. After taking a career test, which she took only half-seriously, one of the outcomes was Occupational Therapy. So, willing to consider that option, Judith volunteered a summer in a rehabilitation facility of a local hospital, where her love of art and crafts came in handy, and she discovered her interest in therapeutic media.
Unfortunately, Brooklyn College did not offer an undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy. Judith states, "I chose to get my B.A. at Brooklyn, declaring as an Art major, then, go to graduate school for Occupational Therapy, rather than change schools.” During her undergraduate studies, she was able to take a wide variety of courses, including drawing, painting, metal, wood, graphics, etc. She found herself particularly drawn to architectural design and photography; this interest would never be set aside. As planned, Judith completed her B.A. and finished an M.S. in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University in New York City. She then entered a very successful 40-year career in Occupational Therapy before "jumping off into her life as an 'Artist.'
Over the years, as a busy professional and mother of two, art took a backseat in her busy life, but photography did not. A camera was always something Judith could grab to produce her images. Eventually, after moving to Arizona, Judith took a workshop combining photography with printmaking; this was the turning point for the direction of her work today. For the last dozen years, she has been working with alcohol transfers with pen and ink; the results are everything from the look of soft value watercolors to the bold brilliance of acrylics. Regardless of the results, Judith enhances the negative space with pen and ink, which brings up the most exciting values and textures in her 2-D pieces. The process is the magic that brings her eye-popping, one-of-a-kind wall art and jewelry designs alive.
"I am fascinated by kinetic art; I'm a huge fan of Agam and Vasarely. I've been inspired by their work all along; however, I have created more multi-layered mixed media pieces that take on a 3-dimensional quality.”
Over the years, as a busy professional and mother of two, art took a backseat in her busy life, but photography did not. A camera was always something Judith could grab to produce her images. Eventually, after moving to Arizona, Judith took a workshop combining photography with printmaking; this was the turning point for the direction of her work today. For the last dozen years, she has been working with alcohol transfers with pen and ink; the results are everything from the look of soft value watercolors to the bold brilliance of acrylics. Regardless of the results, Judith enhances the negative space with pen and ink, which brings up the most exciting values and textures in her 2-D pieces. The process is the magic that brings her eye-popping, one-of-a-kind wall art and jewelry designs alive.
Judith creates from her home studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. Today, Judith explains, "Much of my artwork is travel-inspired, leading to the current Central Market Series. The gut-wrenching situation in Ukraine is the catalyst to my small series, Sunflowers for Humanity, with proceeds of the sales going to organizations providing humanitarian aid to those in Ukraine and the refugees." One of the unique aspects of Judith's alcohol transfer techniques is adding pen and ink into the process. She explains, "I am fascinated by kinetic art; I'm a huge fan of Agam and Vasarely. I've been inspired by their work all along; however, I have created more multi-layered mixed media pieces that take on a 3-dimensional quality in recent years" which creates a kinetic quality to her pieces.
Artist Judith Rothenstein-Putzer is constantly moving, changing, and learning in her design process. She creates an exciting and vibrant work that continually inspires the "oh-wow" reaction. Judith enjoys the loyalty of collectors across the U.S. She is a juried member of the Sonoran Arts League and the Arizona Arts Alliance, and is also an active member of the Fountain Hills Art League. Please visit her website for an updated exhibit schedule and current gallery representation or schedule a tour of her studio.
Email: artworksbyjudith@aol.com
Website: www.artworksbyjudith.com
