Artist of the Month August 2023

Judith Monteferrante

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

JUDITH MONTEFERRANTE is a fine art photographer from New York City and Gloucester MA but now located in Scottsdale and Flagstaff Arizona. Her photography has won many awards and accolades.  Her evocative, rich images capture the enigma, attraction, mood, and beauty of her subjects with an artistic passion and delicate meticulous eye.  As a retired cardiologist, her skills at imaging the heart have transferred to the creation of profound and intimate photographic works of art that capture the turbulent contrasts of nature and of our deepest desires and feelings. She is now adding to her creativity with digital painting.

She completed a Master’s degree in Photographic Studies with honors (MPS) at the School of Visual Arts, in NYC in 2009.  She was awarded Copley Artist status with the Copley Society of Art in Boston, is a Moab Master photographer (by Legion Paper), and is a member of many art associations. A book of her floral photography along with narrative poetry by Tiger Lewis titled "Under the Sun" is now published was well as an updated version of “The Nude Matured: Body and Spirit". Both available on Amazon or Lulu.

How and when did you start creating art?

Originally, I was a photographer as a hobbyist  since my 30s. Both my husband and father were artists, but I was never allowed to enjoy my creativity until my 50s. When I retired from Cardiology in 2008 I went to the School of Visual Arts, in NYC and obtained my Master of Professional Studies in Digital Photography.

What media and genres do you work in?

Medium Format photography initially, transitioning to digital photography and more recently Digital Painting with Corel Painter 2021 painting with texture. 

Who or what are your influences?

In digital painting, Michele Parsley in Photoshop techniques, but now Heather Michelle (Heather the Painter) in Corel Painter.

What was your inspiration for

Blue Buffalo

?

I traveled to Africa frequently and loved the way the Cape Buffalo would stare at you.  I love vivid color, and wanted to light and shadows be more tonal offset by a brilliant background color.

Describe your creative process?

I review all my digital photography images looking for an interesting animal or bird to paint.  And then I imagine what they would look like in bright colors.  Then I apply my textures and start painting with broad strokes just outlining my subject and trying different colors and brushes.  I usually have a few starts until I am happy with my result to then really start working.

What are you working on currently?

I am starting one with using just grayscale.  We'll see how that goes. 

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

To keep improving on my painting skills and do more commission work on painting pets.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

https://www.judithmphotography.com/