Judy Crane has been a full time professional artist for over 20 years. She works in oil, pastel and watercolor, though presently concentrating on Oils.  She has traveled and painted in “plein air” on location in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and many areas of the US.  She paints in a manner that lets the viewer see the subject as the eye sees a scene, not in photographic focus, but with atmosphere and depth of field.  She captures the sophisticated; lush colors of nature and of our man made environment, and presents them in a believable and exciting way.  For the observer her work conveys a feeling of “being there.”

Judy shares her talents by teaching and is a highly sought after workshop instructor.  Judy is generous with her knowledge and strives to help each student individually as much as possible.  She teaches a plein air style that is quick and yet deliberate.  The focus is on shape, value, color and design.  Her workshops “loosen up” the “tight” painter, placing emphasis on what is really important in a painting rather than the details.  She has a teaching DVD available through Jerry’s Artarama website. She teaches each year at the Art of the Carolina's workshops. These bring students from across the US.  She also teaches workshops throughout NC.

 Judy has studied art, taking classes at NC State University, Meredith College, and the Beverly Street Studio School in Staunton VA.  She has also taken numerous workshops with nationally known artists around the country.  These include:

             The Plein Air painter of America Workshops

            Kevin McPherson, NM

Rick McClure, OK

Camille Preswadic, CA

Susan Sarback, CA

Ned Mueller, WA

Charles Sovek

Jim Wilcox, Scottsdale Artist’s School

Frank Hobbs, Perugia Italy

Morgan Samuel Price, Cannes France

Glen Bradshaw, IL

Joan Heston, CT

Jeanne Dobie, PA

Judi Betts, LA

Carol Barnes, SC

Katherine Liu, CA

Carrie Brown, SC

Virginia Cobb, NM

Alex Powers, SC

Her works are included in many corporate collections, including:

SAS Institute,

Glaxo Smith Klein,

Duke University Medical Center,

Progress Energy,

UNC Hospital,

Wake Medical Center,

            Elon College,

GE Mortgage Company,

Bank of America,

First Union National Bank,

Wachovia National Bank,

United Kingdom Paper Company,

NC Historic Preservation,

The Greater Raleigh Visitors and Convention Center,

The North Carolina Executive Mansion,

The Raleigh Marriott city Center,

 Hilton Homewood Suites Hotels

She has been commissioned to do paintings for reproduction by IBM, The city of Raleigh Visitor’s Center, The NC Executive Mansion, The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Dept, Tasteful Magazine, and the Raleigh Marriott City center, where her works were reproduced for all 400-guest rooms.