Judy Thompson is a national award-winning artist who finds much of her inspiration from the vast prairies of America’s heartland. Her vibrant watercolor paintings have toured throughout the Midwest and have been described as “beautiful images which capture a sense of place.” Judy has completed two artist residencies with the National Parks Service: the Homestead National Monument in Nebraska and Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Judy is also the cover artist for the best selling book, “Pioneer Girl, the Annotated Autobiography” by Laura Ingalls Wilder and is currently working on additional covers for the SD Historical Society Press.

“Transparent watercolor is the dominant medium used in my artwork. Its expressive and versatile qualities provides me with an infinite palette of possibilities. In many of my paintings I use charcoal, wax resist and/or India ink to produce interesting, earthy textures. My watercolor batiks are created on a Japanese paper by alternating hot wax with watercolor.  Exploring new ways to use watercolor is fascinating to me and fuels my creativity to keep on painting.”

Originally from the Chicago area, Judy has called Iowa “home” for over 30 years. When she is not sketching or painting, Judy and her husband, Dale, are out biking and hiking through the prairies which surround their home.