Judson Newbern

I've painted my entire life since my first watercolor classes at age 10 when I announced I wanted to learn to paint clouds. Composing the layout of a painting or the grounds of a university campus requires very similar skill sets - a good sense of design and understanding the variables in play.

Developing the skill sets to paint in watercolors, oils and acrylics was necessary for me to capture the range of moods that Nature creates in the subject matter that I most love it paint. Unfortunately, this span doesn't lend itself to developing a recognizable "look" in my work, but I don't know that it really bothers me. The energized brushstrokes and lighting are the two elements that I want to apply in each media.

I chose to make my living in the media of landscape architecture where design and the natural environment merge. This evolved into urban planning and thirty years at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, that culminated with my serving as Deputy VP for Design & Facilities, responsible for overseeing the total environment on the 330-acre campus.

Transitioning from that role and forming an LLC in fall of 2015 is allowing me the time to devote focus once again on producing art. Contrary to today's trends of incorporat...

Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Master of Landscape Architecture

North Carolina State University, School of Design, Bachelor of Environmental Design

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, major in studio arts

One-person, solo exhibit at The Centennnial Club of Nashville in 2018

Co-chairman of The Chestnut Group's joint venture Warner Parks Art Show, Spring 2018
Co-chairman of The Chestnut Group's joint venture Centennial Park Art, Memorial Day weekend 2019

Numerous shows in association with membership in The Chestnut Group, plein air painting non-profit in central Tennessee; serving on Board of Directors

Solo art exhibition, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Gund Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Juried student select exhibition, Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Finalist, National Scholastic Art Awards, Union Carbide Exhibition Center, New York, New York

Finalist, National Grumbacher Award, National Scholastic Art Awards, New York, New York