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The artist, Judy Stach, at work

I believe that every person on the planet has a unique ability to be an advocate for others. In my case, that advocacy is through art. Why art? Why not?! Art is an important vehicle for change. It teaches us history, challenges our minds to invent, and, I believe, brings us closer to understanding all that God, the most perfect artist, created.

I am a “Plein Air” painter, an artist whose work is created primarily outdoors. It is a technique that requires attention to detail and a deep appreciation of nature’s diversity. What is it that lures the artist to paint Plein Air? The quiet, for one – it is the silence that allows the focus. I start each day with a prayer that I have said since childhood which calls upon the Holy Spirit to “renew the face of the earth”. Unplugged from the cell phone and computer, my mind stills and I begin to work. Colors float across my white canvas as waves upon the water. I try to commit to the composition first, and once I have it, either in my mind’s eye, or on the canvas, the story begins.

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Plein Air artist John Aria at work on the Navesink River.

The sights and sounds of the Jersey Shore are particularly inspiring to me. Last week members of The Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast LLC, or PAPJC, (an organization I helped found) gathered to meet, and greet, and paint at a space overlooking the Navesink River. This pearl of a piece of land had it all: water lapping up a sandy spit of land below, breezes whistling through the leaves and the occasional sound of a passing gull. This is the music I paint to. (Sorry, Bruce.)  This is the beginning of a perfect time in space, surrounded with all that is free to us. Fishermen, especially the locals who arrive early in the morning to cast, seem to have the same focus. I have chosen several of them for subjects over the years.

Artist Caroline Klein brings the landscape to life
Artist Caroline Klein brings the landscape to life

PAPJC members are a passionate, dedicated and appreciative group of artists. We take pleasure in each other’s work and offer support and guidance when needed. Twelve years ago we began a program to aid different local charities through our work. Our objective was to host an art show and sale which would help raise money for a particular charity, while at the same time, create an awareness about the organization and the people it serves. Through the years we have supported Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the Jacqueline Wilentz Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center, the Parker Clinic in Red Bank, and the Care to Give Council of Meridian Health.

This year we are honored to bring our work to Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club to benefit Family & Children’s Service, Monmouth County’s oldest nonprofit social service agency and a leading volunteer organization. By Painting it Forward, the title of our August 16th show, we are directing our time and talent to an organization that helps bridge the gap by addressing the diverse needs of people in our own community, from homelessness and abuse, to childhood literacy and obesity. Sales of the paintings will help support FCS’s work so that those in need do not fall through the cracks! We also hope that this year’s show will create a vibrant, positive portrayal of the paradise we call home, the Jersey Coast.

judyJudy Stach is locally renowned artist, a lifelong resident of New Jersey and founder of the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast. Judy’s works have been exhibited throughout the country and featured in numerous publications. She is represented locally at Veranda in Fair Haven and The Frederick Gallery, Spring Lake. You can view examples of Judy’s work on her website, www.judystach.com