Meet Judy Crowell | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Judy Crowell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have a few of mantras I live by… Be the reason someone smiles today
If you don’t love it, don’t do it (related to your career)
Do something you love and the money will come
Since I was an officer in the Air Force, a teacher, a retail store manager and a human resource manager, I new I could run a business. I have always loved my career choices, but I always wanted to be a working artist. When I left corporate America, I knew what I was going to do. Create art!! I’m very lucky to have a wonderful husband who supports my choice in every way.
In order to be financially successful, I give private art lessons, facilitate paint parties and do art shows in South Florida. I am living my best life and that is why I started my own business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The path to getting where I am today is very painful and I haven’t shared my story publicly until today. I am sharing it today in the hopes that I can help someone achieve their dreams. In my senior year of high school, my figure and portraiture teacher told me I would starve if I became a commercial artist (known as graphic artist today). He crushed my dreams. It was 1976 and women were allowed to enter the military academies. My dad was a Colonel in the Army and there was a lot of pressure for me to join the military. Since I believed I was not a good artist, I applied for scholarships in the Air Force, Navy and Army. I was honored to receive a full scholarship from the AF and attended the University of Florida. I earned a math degree and entered the service in 1980. I stayed in the AF for 6 years and then left the AF. I have had many careers since then. From my departure from the AF in 1986, to 2019, I have been a store manager and human resource manager.

There is a common thread through all of these careers…I was acting all of the time. I was a chameleon and made myself the person I was expected to be. I was highly successful in all areas which I give credit to my military upbringing, my personal drive and my ability to be whoever my boss wanted me to be. I was always happy, but my professions were my only source of self esteem. In my last job, I was terminated by my new boss. My previous boss was happy with my skills. My new boss didn’t try to understand or get to know me and my work ethic, so she terminated me within 3 months of her promotion. I completely snapped!

On July 7, 2019, I shot myself under the chin. I couldn’t figure out why I was on the planet and I had no meaning. God had a different plan for me. Instead of going through the brain, the bullet left my head between my eyebrows. I wasn’t sure that I believed in God, but the bullet didn’t lodge in the wall across from me, it lodged in the wall directly behind my head (mathematically impossible). God had to have been in the room that day to catch the bullet, there is not other explanation. Anyway…long story longer, I spent 2 months in the hospital with a trach, a feeding tube and my mouth wired shut. I don’t know how many surgeries and dental procedures I have had. When I woke up, after the initial sadness of not succeeding, I realized I must here for a reason.

Commercial interruption: I really didn’t want to wake up because I was hallucinating that Elvis and I were packing our belongings to go to heaven. I love Elvis!! They give you lots of drugs in ICU…:-)

When I was in ICU, I couldn’t talk, eat, drink or even, to go to the bathroom without an oxygen tank and someone to help me. I had lots of time to think and draw. God bless my husband and parents!! When I was able to sit up, they brought me paper and colored pencils and I started to draw for the first time in 2 decades. The nurses loved my work and gave me so much appreciation. I couldn’t talk and could barely move. The nurses kept telling me that I was their favorite and they loved me. I didn’t understand since I couldn’t talk and they told me they could see my heart. The doctors and nurses at Delray Medical Center saved my life and opened my heart.

When I got home, I started to paint again. I entered small arts and crafts shows in Boynton and Delray Beaches. I was so scared. One of my front teeth and 3 bottom molars were missing. It was difficult to talk and is still difficult to eat. My husband and parents were so supportive!! People bought and like my work. Something funny happened. I painted a mailbox like a VW Bus with 60’s decorations. I wasn’t even set up and someone gave me $50 for that first mailbox. I have painted many of them since that day.

COVID happened, the state closed and I was still having medical procedures on my face and teeth. A year later I participated in the St. Stephen’s Art Festival in Coconut Grove, FL. The state then closed for a second time. I spent that time taking an extremely challenging abstract art class. It did great things for me mentally. I was always trying to be perfect and it made me feel free. Fran Goodman was my teacher and I give her credit for changing my techniques, but mostly for changing how I feel about my art.

In 2021 the art show season began again and I was booked well with private art lessons. With bated breath I began to apply for the big shows for 2021-2022. I was invited to every show except for one. What a game changer!!!!!! I am enjoying success and I love the personal interaction with creatives and clients. I love the opportunity of meeting other artists and art lovers.

Now I am looking forward to another successful art season!

I will never forget that I had hit rock bottom to realize that my dreams can come true. My dreams have come true and my attempted suicide has given me more blessings then I could ever deserve. I have an amazing husband and parents. People are recognizing me for painting bright colors with lots of texture. I paint abstract and somewhat abstract flowers and birds. Some refer to my work as fantasy paintings and that makes me smile.

And we come right back to my first comment…”be the reason someone smiles today.” In my opinion, that is what art should do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I don’t live in Miami, but have lived there very briefly. I LOVE Cutler Ridge. I lived their for a short time, but the people were the friendliest I have ever encountered. It is mostly Latin and I don’t speak Spanish, but the love shown through.
I discovered cafe con leche!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
French restaurant in a small shopping center on 77th.
Hammock Matheson Park…great Kayaking launch with fishing and sightseeing of wealthy homes.
Winward Walls is amazing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could not have done this without my amazing husband, Richard Williams! Financial support is the obvious way he has supported me, but that is only a small part of it. He lifts me up spiritually and creatively everyday. He is creative as well and has great ideas about my art and my business.

I am very grateful that my parents are still alive and live down the street from us. They are 90 and 92!! My dad was instrumental in starting my skills. He taught me paint by number when I was 5 and by the time I was 10, I was faux finishing our art cabinet.

My mom is my rock in every facet of my life. She is supportive and she also gives me the constructive feedback that I need.

Website: Crowellscolors.com

Instagram: Judy Ann Crowell

Facebook: Judy Ann Crowell Williams or Crowell’s Colors

Other: Email crowellscolors.com@gmail.com