Meet Judy Figgins | Artist

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

Hi Judy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Drawing has always been what I consider a hobby for me. After setting it aside for close to 20 years, I started back up in 2017. I never thought about making my art a business until a friend asked me to draw a pet portrait for her. I soon began to realize there was a demand for drawn portraits of pets and people. Customer referrals has been my biggest (and the best in my opinion) source of advertising. I guess you could say I really didn’t go seeking the business, the business found me!

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.
I’m not sure there is really anything spectacular about what I do that would set me apart from others. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and that’s what makes each of us unique. I think it’s what we do with our weaknesses that sets us apart. If we continue to shy away from what intimidates us we won’t grow. Drawing people has always been one thing I was very fearful of until I was asked to draw a portrait of a friend’s baby. I agreed with much fear and trembling but it turned out well and I enjoyed the process. Boy did I learn A LOT doing that drawing! I’ve been rid of that fear since. A major set back I had came after a bad illness in 2021 that caused me to lose my desire to draw….completely. I had to force myself to pick up my pencils and draw something….anything…to try and light that fire again. Through much prayer and perseverance I had to continue to work at fanning the flames but I’m happy to say it worked! That desire I had missed is back. I hope that I can bring as much joy to people who see my artwork as my artwork brings me in creating it. God has blessed me with the talent, i just get to have fun with it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well that is not an easy question to answer given the area we live in. We are very remote here and there isn’t that much to do that some would consider exciting. I would have to say we’d pack a lunch and head to the canyons, do some hiking, perhaps look at Indian writings. Then we’d come back home, grill some steak or a hamburger, kick back and visit. We are such homebodies that we don’t venture out too much. A glass of iced tea or a cup of coffee and conversation is good for me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family and friends have encouraged me to continue to pursue my artwork. My dad has always been the one I consider the biggest encouragement to me, especially when I was a kid living at home. Every time I finished a drawing he was the first person I wanted to show it to. There are also various artists on social media and YouTube that have inspired me and provided a great deal of help in my techniques and with trying new things.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyfigginsartwork