About the Artist

Listed in "Who's Who in American Art," JUDITH CARDUCCI has received international recognition as one of today's best portrait painters. Her work has been shown in such venues as The National Arts Club and the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Cahoon Museum of American Art, and the Butler Institute of American Art. She has been featured in International Artist, Pastel Artist International, American Artist, The Pastel Journal, The Artist's Magazine, and the books, Best of Portrait Painting and Best of Pastel (North Light Books), "100 Ways to Paint People" (International Artist), and Portrait Highlights (American Artist). She is one of two Americans featured in the book Paint! Portrait and Figure by the Swiss publisher RotoVision, and her painting, "Xanadu," was selected as one of the "best of the best" by the former curator of the Smithsonian Institute's Renwick Gallery for the art book Beautiful Things (Guild). Her work is in collections in the United States, Canada, Israel, and Europe.

Her paintings have won Best of Show, Award of Excellence, First Place, Award of Merit, and purchase awards at international and national shows and competitions. She is a member of the Portrait Society of America (board & faculty). Pastel Society of America (signature member), Degas Pastel Society, American Artists Professional League, International Association of Pastel Societies, Cincinnati Art Club, Salmagundi Club, Akron Society of Artists, and Hudson Society of Artists. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women, Outstanding People of the 20th [& 21st] Century (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England), and is represented by Portrait Brokers, Inc., and Portraits South. She teaches workshops in portraiture and pastel, by invitation.

" Judy Carducci ... has become one of the most outstanding artists in the country
with her superb draftsmanship and use of color. "

—Gordon Wetmore, Chairman, Portrait Society of America
from "The Art of the Portrait," International Artist, April/May '03

Artist's Statement

"Critique - a self-portrait"

When I was a child, my art teacher had me copy "Holbein Heads" - drawings by the great Hans Holbein, portraitist to the court of England's King Henry VIII. That was the beginning of my lifelong fascination with portraiture and my enduring respect for Holbein's genius. Even now, my teacher's voice, as she showed me the fine points of his skill, echoes in my ear: "Look for the lost and found!"

This self portrait of the artist on a coffee break, in intense concentration assessing the work in progress (values? edges? gesture? composition...?), is also my homage to Holbein, his strength of characterization and his use of color (especially in the simple rich green background). And it is nostalgic for me - a reminder of my love and gratitude for my teacher.