Upstate artist Judy Verhoeven creates joyful mixed-media paintings for the home

Judy Verhoeven’s mixed-media collage paintings make for a happy home

We all have them in our homes: whimsical, odd or old items that may seem worthless to others but are priceless to us. A grandfather’s wool cap; a set of three blue glass birds; a well-loved Singer sewing machine that no longer stitches. We carry these special objects from home to new home, always finding a special place for them. Those connections are what inspire the delightful work of Judy Verhoeven.

“I paint the mundane things in life that are small but important, and I often have hidden messages in my work,” reveals the Upstate-based artist. “I’ve always included owls in my work because of my granddaddy, a teacher and principal, who would sign cards as ‘the wise old owl’—and I use old sewing pattern paper to remember my mother, who would sew all of our clothes growing up.”

When Verhoeven first began illustrating her world, she used only acrylic paint but quickly discovered a love of incorporating recycled copy paper, old books, maps, and sewing patterns. Verhoeven cuts out and meshes this bouquet of clippings into unique collages that invite the viewer to look closer and find a personal connection of their own.

“The joyfulness is the artwork’s gift,” adds Verhoeven. “I paint a lot of dogs, for instance. And maybe you noticed the words ‘good dog’ in the highlight of an eye—something that just makes you grin.” Lately, the artist is branching out from her usual menagerie of animals to explore more imaginary creatures. “I’ve gotten very whimsical with my pets lately. I wanted to get a little bit freer with the work.”

While many artists work closely with interior designers, Verhoeven’s art finds its way onto walls one piece, and one person, at a time. “Those who collect my work are usually individuals who see a painting and want it in the world they’re creating [at home] because it brings them joy and connection, and they value that in their life,” she says. “And that’s my advice: If you love the art, get it. Chances are, you’ll never regret taking home a piece that makes you happy.”