Judy Paxton Bruce was born in the small town of Danville, Illinois on a lake with forests and gardens surrounding her.  Everyone knew, even when she was a young child, that Judy was an artist because of her constant coloring, fantasizing and weird imagination.  From fourth grade on, her teachers sat her at the back of the room painting for the local contests.   She has always been passionate about color and loved working figuratively.   In college, painting continued to be a passion but after walking into a classroom, she fell in love with teaching and spent thirty five years working in elementary and junior high art. Judy made a difference in the lives of hundreds of children in Skokie, Illinois. During that time she spent summers painting.  Judy and her husband, like their parents, had an antique and folk art business for over 25 years doing shows on the weekends.  They moved to Cave Creek in 2001 soon after retirement where Judy has painted full time in her studio on Galloway Wash.

1968—Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University. Major in painting, Minor in education.

            1968-1978--Elementary Art teacher, Skokie, Illinois

            1978—2001—Junior High School Art teacher

            1979—Northern Illinois University summer MFA program

            1980—Began Masters Degree Program at the Chicago Consortium of Colleges

            1981---Began J. Bruce Antiques—dealing in Folk Art, Americana and toys

            1984—Interdisciplinary Arts Masters  Degree from Loyola University, Chicago    
            1984—TDK “Japan Trails’85” won 2 week all expenses paid trip to Japan with student.

1985—Winner of the Kohl International Teaching Award for Excellence in Education.

            1989—Published article in the School Arts Magazine on Interdisciplinary Arts

1993—Produced, with students, a multicultural mural for the Cole Taylor Bank, Skokie, Illinois

            1996—Awarded Illinois State Board of Education “Those Who Excel”

1997— “Marjorie Wedell Award” for exemplary service to School District #69

2001—January—Retired from Skokie School District #69

2002—Moved from Skokie, Illinois to Cave Creek, Arizona and Studio on Galloway Wash

2004-2008--Hosted a studio in “Hidden in the Hills” a studio tour-show in the foothills north of Phoenix

2005--- Z Gallery, Rhode Island, “heART Goes Red for Women” show. Art was on the brochure cover

2005-2008--Co-chair Youth Art Sonoran Arts League

2005—October 7-Herberger Theater Art Show “Not Just Another Pretty Face”

2006—Glass Art Class in San Migel Alende, Mexico

2006-2008--Conceived and produced the Sonoran Arts League Summer Art Camp

2007-2008--Chairman of Visual Arts Cave Creek Fine Arts Festival

2008—Two pieces selected for the Herberger Theater “Impritur” Juried Art Show

            2008--President of the Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival
            2009--President of the Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival
            2009--Chosen to display at the Desert Foothills Library Juried Art Show
            2009--Five pieces chosen to be exhibited at the "Printmakers Show"  Desert Foothills 
            Lutheran  Church   
            2009--Six pieces chosen to be exhibited at the Holland Community Center Show, Scottsdale
            2009--Art chosen to be exhibited at the "Small Works Show", SAL Gallery, Cave Creek