Blending her compassion for endangered species with her passion for watercolor, Judith Hendrix creates captivating images that depict the miraculous hues of flora and fauna, eliciting a curiosity to look deeper. A common element – the lucid sparkle in the eyes of her subjects – whether a red eyed tree frog from a Costa Rica rain forest or loggerhead turtle off the coast of Jekyll Island, Ga. – strike a cord in the heart strings of viewers.

As a world traveler, artist, animal and nature lover Judith draws from life experiences as she puts brush to paper with a splash of intensity. Her style – colorful, vibrant and detailed – reflects her personality -- a composite of vivacious energy mixed with quiet introspection. A youthful exploratory nature blended with a sharp intellect.

Upon meeting her she’ll offer you a warm handshake and say, “Hi, I’m Judith. I’m deaf.” Her severe hearing loss caused by otosclerosis hasn’t stopped her from achieving an amazing list of accomplishments in both her art career and personal endeavors. In fact, it has sharpened her ability to see, and to communicate her vision in a big way.

Judith has earned four A.A. degrees (two in the arts), has an MBA, was the director of procurement for a Silicon Valley computer company, and even has a pilot’s license.

Her passion for art was evident at an early age. “I remember tracing my Dad’s WWII Marine bulldog tattoo on his arm while he was asleep. I was about 4,” Judith said. “I’d run around tracing everything, then filling in the details.”

While her parents insisted she go for a business degree rather than pursuing art as a profession (which they later admitted was a mistake), Judith did take art classes on top of her business curriculum and began painting with oils in college and later became a muralist in Atlanta. Today in her retirement she has settled on her favorite medium – watercolor. She creates her work in her studio in a cabin on Screamer Mountain in northern Georgia, overlooking the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains where she and her husband Frank have laid down their retirement roots.

“We’ve retired…but I’ve never been busier in my life,” claims Judith. Her “Red Eyed Hyla” won an honorable mention in a juried national art show held at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Her work is currently displayed at Georgia Heritage Art Gallery in Tallulah Falls, Georgia where she is a resident artist and at Village Verandah, Village of the Arts, Bradenton, Florida.

Judith’s work in many ways serves to protect the species she paints. The helpless creatures are preserved in the hearts and minds of the viewers. In addition, Judith dedicates a portion of her proceeds to a variety of wildlife organizations, including the “Save the Rain Forest” cause.