The Artist

A second-generation American–Dane, and a preacher’s kid, I was born in Nebraska and attended school in Brush Colorado.  As a Boettcher Scholar, I graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in mathematics. I had a successful career in the computer (senior engineer – IBM) and financial business (director – US West) for 27 years. In the corporate world, I had a bit of extra money and spent it on custom-made jewelry. Fascinated with the gemstones, and at my jeweler’s suggestion, I began to study gemology. When a multitude of corporate downsizings closed my mergers and acquisitions organization, it was an easy choice to leave the corporate world altogether for the love of art.

My primary education in metal-smithing was at Arapahoe Community College studying under Richard Sweetman. In addition, I have taken workshops from masters such as Lee Marshall, Phil Poirier, Thomas Mann, Richard Messina, Jerry McClure, Carol Webb and Michael Boyd. These wonderful teachers enthusiastically shared their expertise and passion for metalworking. I teach to pay back the pool of expertise so generously shared. I am a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, California.

My family came from Marstal on the island of Æro in Denmark. They were shipbuilders and smiths for the shipbuilding industry in the late 1800s. I wanted to honor that tradition and so have named my studio the Marstal Smithy. I love visiting the old town of Marstal with curvy streets, the windows with a mirror so you can see who is in the street while in your living room and the church with models of sailing ships hanging from the ceiling. I can almost imagine how the town was when my grandfather Karl Rasmussen lived there over 100 years ago.

The first gemstone I recognized was amber in a pendant my mother brought from Denmark. While I use many traditional gemstones in my work, I have a special love for Danish amber and stones of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Greenland in my one-of-a-kind designs. The spare sensibility of the Scandinavian lifestyle imbued our home and is still a major influence in my art.

How I work: 

While I engage in workmanship of risk, my design vocabulary includes balance, order, reflection and asymmetry. My shapes often come from mathematics and range from the simple geometry of squares, elegant triangles, and sections of that perfect shape – the circle – to the chaotic predictability of Fibonacci series.

My tools range from the traditional goldsmith’s hammer to a big hydraulic press. I love the results of heat on precious metal – the textures and colors.

My techniques include fusing, soldering, raising, chasing, hand engraving, reticulating, etching and embossing. My materials are sterling silver, 14K, 18K, 22K and 24K gold, 18K/sterling bimetal, 22K/sterling bimetal, mokume gane – a Japanese style wood grain metal, and reticulated silver. I use gemstones in many ways – as brilliant accents, large focal points and in their natural unpolished beauty.

Most of my art is one-of-a-kind. All unique pieces are signed and numbered. I keep a visual inventory of everything I have made since 2004, and a few before. If you would like a coordinating piece, it is very easy to locate the picture of your jewelry and then to design something that compliments it. Most lost earrings can be re-created accurately too. Earrings with stones are usually not able to be re-matched.

 

Awards and memberships

  • Downtown Denver Arts Festival, 2010, invited artist
  • Downtown Denver Arts Festival, 2008, merit award
  • Grand Junction Wells Fargo Art show, 2008, best of show
  • La Quinta, CA Festival of the Arts, 2008
  • Langman Gallery, Bethlehem, PA – 2007 - 2010, invited artist
  • Monsoon Gallery, Willow Creek, PA – 2007 featured artist
  • Grand Junction Art show, 2007, first place art
  • Walker Fine Art – May 2005
  • Colored Stone Magazine, one of 10 nominated for favorite jeweler 2005 
  • Castle Rock Art Festival, Sept 2004, first place jewelry
  • Keystone Festival Italiana, July 2004, first place jewelry
  • Evergreen Art Festival, August 2004, third place jewelry
  • Norsk Høstfest, Minot, ND, invited artist 2003 - 2006
  • Norsk Høstfest, Minot, ND, best of show 2003
  • Grosse Pointe Michigan Art Festival, June  2000, invited artist
  • Castle Rock Art Festival, Sept. 2000, first place jewelry
  • Foothills Holiday Art Market 1994 - 2003
  • Traditions... Southwest 1997, Foothills Art Center 
  • Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, 1995 - 2005, invited artist
  • Show of Hands 1997 Colorado Metal Artists Show
  • Cider Days, 1999, second place
  • Canyon walls, Foothills Art Center, Golden, January 1997, invited artist
  • Keystone Art Festival, July 1998, first place, jewelry
  • Castle Rock Art Festival, Sept. 1999, first place jewelry
  • Evergreen Art Festival, August 1999, second place jewelry

 

Organizations:

  • Colorado Metal Artists (COMA)
  • Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
  • American Crafts Council
  • Pennsylvania Society of Goldsmiths

Miscellaneous stuff about Judy –

  • BA – Mathematics, minor physics
  • Drove the length of Norway, 2200km – Bergen to Kirkenes on the Russian border searching for gemstones
  • Makes pickles from cucumbers in her garden
  • Considered a gourmet cook
  • Has 38 hammers, and uses them – with vigor!
  • Nationally certified high performance driving instructor for car club
  • Has flown aerobatic plane, upside down, and spinning.
  • Has two useless very large blue-eyed cats.
  • Judy grows orchids in her kitchen window.

File 73The troll is her shop helper, and has stories to tell. She comes from Sandnesjoen in Norway, is very bossy, and has traveled widely. Very good eye for stones. Her name is Torga, and she is made from the wool of the Viking sheep found on our family’s farm in Rongevaer, Norway.

My work can be seen in juried art shows and by appointment. Please see the list of shows on this site. Now that the big move is over, I will once again be adding galleries. Stay tuned.

I also accept custom orders. It is best to contact me directly so I can understand what you like. We accept Visa, Master Card and American Express credit cards. When placing an order, be sure to include your name, shipping address,and phone number or e-mail address. Because e-mail is not secure, I would prefer that you send the other information by e-mail and then call with credit card information.

Within the US, normal shipping is US Priority Mail; FedEx or UPS shipping is available. Sales tax is applicable on Colorado orders.