Original Southwest Art by
Judith Durr

Choctaw
Native American Artist

Biography & Statement

"My goal is preserving the legacy of the subjects portrayed in my oil paintings. Inspirations and influences of my artwork is due to my proud native heritage, Choctaw and Cherokee, and parents who encouraged me as young person to pursue my dreams and aspirations. Every artist dreams of leaving a recognizalbe legacy."

In capturing the emotions of the viewer, my illusion of realism is accomplished. When people eagerly reach out to feel the fabric of the rugs, touch the painted beads in the moccasins, bags, the smoothness of the pottery, pick the corn or touch the jewlery from my oil paintings I am provided with a great source of satisfaction.

My distinctive style is unique with my use of rugs as a consistent background element in my compositions. This has become my signature or trademark in my oil paintings. I work strictly in oils and layers of a wet on wet technique. There are no shortcuts.

The research, arrangements of the compositions, histories of the artifacts and the incredible artisians are inspiration for the carefully selected subjects in my oil paintings. Growing up on the Navajo reservation as a child, influenced my use of rugs. My fathers interest in art, archeology created a fertile bases for my artwork.

As a collector, I feel a strong respondsiblity to my artwork and the maintaining the integrity of the subjects used in my oil paintings. I am fortunate to be able to collect and own the subjects used in my work. Some of these beautiful heirlooms were passed to me through my families collection. Early in my career, I was fortunate to have wonderful treasures loaned to me from other collectors. In painting the still lifes, I paint from life.

 I am privilege to live my life's dream.  Always the student, the importantance, for me, is to continue to learn and experience the challenge of painting superior oil paintings. It is an honor to have my work recognized internationally and represented by impressive galleries."

Biography:

Judith Durr, a native of Arizona, resides in the beautiful hill country of Cave Creek, Arizona with her husband, Roger Kull a fine art leather artist. Cave Creek is located north of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. If you would like to visit Judith's studio/gallery, please call for an appointment.

Judith is dedicated to realism in her exquisite oil paintings and her spectacular style speaks for itself. Her heritage is Choctaw and Cherokee and living on the Navajo reservation, her love of history and archeology, is the inspiration for her oil paintings. Her genre includes First People's still lifes, western life, landscapes and historical research.

Judith lectured at Northen Arizona University, in the early 1990's, for studies in Southwestern life and art. These lectures were designed for foreign exchange students and elder hostels programs at N.A.U. She also designed an interactive watercolor program for children, "Color and Stuff".  Since 2003 Judith  lectures for the West Valley Fine Arts Council, Litchfield Park, Arizona  on "Painting, Inspiration and the Native American Spirit". Judith began working in 2007 with Pueblo Grande Museum Auxilary on the Indian Market Advisory Committee. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, chose Judith's, “Mora Tradition” as the 2007 American Indian Heritage poster and program cover.

Western Art Collector recognized Judith's talent in the May, 2008 edition of their prestigous magazine and Galerie Esteban in Santa Fe, New Mexico represented her work for a one woman showing in June, 2008.

Judith has been a dynamic commission artist since 1979. Her commissions include many private collectors throughout the United States and Europe.  Included in her list of commissions,  the opportunity to work with Dr. Phil Weigand, field archeologist with the Northern Arizona Museum, in Flagstaff. Judith traveled to Teuchitlan and completed a four-foot by five-foot oil painting recreation of the Guachimonton complex near Teuchitlan, Jalisco, Mexico. The oil painting is in the Museum of History and Anthropology in Mexico City. This painting was donated for the state of Jalisco by Dr. Weigand.

Judith studied fine art at the Scottsdale Artist School with Jim Daly for three years in figure studies.

Memberships include: Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA), in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is listed on the offical Choctaw Nation Artist Registry and is a signature member of Women Artist of the West (WAOW), a signature member of Southwestern Premier Artists.

Articles and advertising for Judith Durr appear in Western Art Collector, Arizona Collector's Guide, Southwest Art, Art of the West and Art Talk, Arizona Republic, Phoenix Home and Garden.

GALLERY REPRESENTATION:

JOAN CAWLEY GALLERY Ltd, publishes and licensing agent.  Website for Joan Cawley Gallery is www.jcgltd.com,   Scottsdale, Arizona  85281, 480-858-0929.  

GALERIE  ESTEBAN,  241 Delgado Street (Canyon & Delgado), Santa Fe, NM 87501, 505-988-1002

Turn West, Carefree, Arizona

Purple Iris Galley, Ouray, Colorado

 MOUNTAIN STUDIO, Inc., Cave Creek, Arizona 480-595-2443, by appointment only.

The painting below was a commissioned piece. The moccasins belong to Marguerite Narramore.