My name is Judy Russell and I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have a dog, cat and several aging exotic birds. Although my main occupation is as a Clinical Behavioral Psychologist, my true avocation has always been art of one kind or another since childhood.
As an adult, I took up pottery for about 12 years, making pots, selling at art fairs and teaching from my own home studio. I also dabbled in copper enameling and later began to draw, mostly in colored pencils and pastels. My drawings usually were of flowers, birds, animals, and I specialized in pet portraits.
About 6 years ago or so, I became interested in beading and started taking classes at a local bead store. I learned many basic seed beading techniques and then started to use them with my own ideas and styles, usually trying to recreate a vintage look, but sometimes going in a totally contemporary mode.
You can do just about anything with beads. There is no limit to imagination and creativity.
I am a member of SRAJD (Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designers) and have been juried into many local art shows.
I also belong to several other Internet jewelry and seed beading groups and recently contributed a 4X4" beaded square to a large tapestry to benefit the victims of the 2005 hurricanes.
