Judi Mitchell
Having spent my early years entertaining guests in the lobby of my parents’ motel, I learned early on how much fun it can be to put a smile on someone’s face. Inherent in my personality is finding the fun and emotion in situations, and there is nothing better than hearing a chuckle or watching a smile spread across someone’s face viewing my work. Whimsical is the words that most state about my sculptural work. Art has been a part of my life since I was very young, from painting, to sculpting, to jewelry, etc. As a child, my playdough and salt clay involved sticks being inserted for legs, or shells for antlers, etc. A self-taught artist, I have found a strong love in sculpting, mainly in ceramics, especially within the alternative firing techniques (such as Raku, Pit, Saggar, Foil Saggar, Naked Raku and Wood Firing). These firing techniques give my pieces the rich colors and/or organic elements that assist in providing the emotion of each piece. Just like when I was a child, I tend to use found objects such as wood, metal, antlers, shells, pods, etc., with clay to create a piece. When I look at the found object I see an image in my mind of what it reminds me of – for instance a seed pod may be a rabbit ear, or a piece of driftwood a horse’s tail, etc. It is exciting to see the piece coming together to what my mind had envisioned. I feel that I am giving a new life to the found object.
My maiden name was Burd. When I divorced I had established my professional career as Mitchell, as well as my children desired that I keep the same name as theirs. After my father passed away I started putting birds on a lot of my work to honor not only my maiden name but my father. His favorite color was red – explaining why there are a lot of red birds on my pieces.
My work can be found in many galleries, shows, and have been purchased for their final destination nationally and internationally.
I teach many ceramic classes at Simms Street Apex and teach Animal Sculpture at the Arvada Center. I am honored to have been selected in 2019 to be the Director of the Evergreen Fines Arts Festival in Evergreen, Colorado, and was asked after a successful event to return in 2020.
Most recent awards that I have received:
From the Earth 2010 (Tri-Lakes Art) – 1st Place and Honorable Mention for Clay
From the Earth 2011 (Tri-Lakes Art) – Best of Show for Clay and People Choice Award
From the Earth 2012 (Tri-Lakes Art) – 3rd Place for Clay
Gilpin County Art Association 2011 – 1st Place for 3D
Gilpin County Art Association 2012 – Best of Show 3D
Art Gallery 3698 Art Show 2013 – 1st Place
Art of the Egg, Evergreen 2016 – Best of Show
Gilpin County Art Association 2016 – Honorable Mention
My maiden name was Burd. When I divorced I had established my professional career as Mitchell, as well as my children desired that I keep the same name as theirs. After my father passed away I started putting birds on a lot of my work to honor not only my maiden name but my father. His favorite color was red – explaining why there are a lot of red birds on my pieces.
My work can be found in many galleries, shows, and have been purchased for their final destination nationally and internationally.
I teach many ceramic classes at Simms Street Apex and teach Animal Sculpture at the Arvada Center. I am honored to have been selected in 2019 to be the Director of the Evergreen Fines Arts Festival in Evergreen, Colorado, and was asked after a successful event to return in 2020.
Most recent awards that I have received:
From the Earth 2010 (Tri-Lakes Art) – 1st Place and Honorable Mention for Clay
From the Earth 2011 (Tri-Lakes Art) – Best of Show for Clay and People Choice Award
From the Earth 2012 (Tri-Lakes Art) – 3rd Place for Clay
Gilpin County Art Association 2011 – 1st Place for 3D
Gilpin County Art Association 2012 – Best of Show 3D
Art Gallery 3698 Art Show 2013 – 1st Place
Art of the Egg, Evergreen 2016 – Best of Show
Gilpin County Art Association 2016 – Honorable Mention