Judy Walters’ path to becoming an artist wasn’t quick or direct, but her story embodies the magic that can happen when you embrace change, challenge and self-discovery. From her early life in Pikeville, Kentucky, to her rise as a sought-after painter of Lowcountry landscapes, Walters’ journey is a testament to the power of following your passion—no matter when it’s discovered.
When Walters retired, some of her girlfriends were planning a trip to Italy for an oil painting workshop. Though she had never picked up a paintbrush before, the idea of a fun getaway appealed to her. Little did she know that the trip would mark the beginning of her artistic career.
“I loved the experience and got hooked on learning to paint,” Walters says. “From then on, we went a couple of times a year for workshops.” Her love for painting deepened, and as she continued to hone her craft, she traveled more frequently to workshops worldwide. A few years after this serendipitous start, Walters moved to Charleston from her ranch in the Florida Panhandle, and it was here that she began to take her art more seriously. “I love the challenge, and I love the people,” she says. “Artists are my tribe.”
Though her artistic journey began as a casual interest, it soon became much more. Walters’ work is focused primarily on Lowcountry landscapes, the sky, water and marshes, and reflects her deep connection to the environment around her. The artist and her husband spend about six months a year on their boat, traveling the East Coast from Provincetown, Massachusetts, down to Exuma in the Bahamas and the Florida Keys. These travels inspire her work, particularly the dynamic and ever-changing scenery she encounters.
“While we’re in Charleston, we spend a lot of time along the rivers and marshes,” Walters says. “I love the Lowcountry. The marsh is constantly changing around our home on Daniel Island. Plus, we girls are constantly plein air painting; we take our easels out and watch the sunset.”
This commitment to working outdoors and capturing nature as it unfolds in real time speaks to the heart of her artistic philosophy. Whether in Charleston or on the boat, Walters immerses herself in her surroundings, finding inspiration in the sky, water and landscape wherever she is.
Walters’ roots in Kentucky are an integral part of her story. Growing up as the daughter of a coal miner, she understood hard work and the value of perseverance from an early age. Before becoming a full-time artist, Walters spent her career in fields like business, real estate and property development. Even in these more business-minded roles, she was drawn to the creative aspects of design and renovation. Her ability to merge the technical and the artistic would later become a hallmark of her approach to painting.
Her love for art developed over time, especially when she began visiting museums and galleries. “Our son was doing his residency in Charleston in the 1990s, and through my daughter-in-law, I met a lot of local artists in the gallery on Broad Street, such as Rhett Thurman and Karen Hagan,” Walters says. “They really inspired me with the way they looked at nature.” These encounters with established artists sparked something within her. As she entered retirement, Walters began traveling the world, taking every workshop she could find, from Europe to Thailand and Africa. Each of these experiences deepened her appreciation for nature.
Walters’ educational journey included a pivotal experience at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy. “We’d go up to Fiesole and paint the sunrises and sunsets,” she recalls. “I feel very blessed to be able to see God’s creation in situations like that and attempt to put it on canvas.” During this time, Walters truly began to refine her craft and develop the skills that would define her work.
Walters’ approach to painting is methodical and thoughtful. Whether at home in her Daniel Island studio, on the top deck of her boat or abroad, she follows a structured creative process that begins with observation and study. “Usually, I’ll go out and do a small study and take photos to capture the atmosphere and local color, then bring it back to my studio,” she says. “Once I’m back in the studio, I’ll do a sketch or several small studies, moving things around so it’s pleasing to me.”
This careful planning is vital to her success. Walters’ works often start as smaller studies, and if the composition and color work well, she may expand them into larger pieces, sometimes as large as 40 by 60 inches. Her technique is built on layering dark colors first, then adding details and lighter strokes to direct the viewer’s eye across the canvas. “When I’m in town, I paint 24-by-30-inch canvases, but I try to do a couple of large pieces too. The large pieces are more challenging to get the perspective right,” Walters explains. “It’s easier to mix the colors when you’re outside, so I’ll put them on the side of the canvases.”
Despite the meticulous process, Walters embraces the beauty of spontaneity and fluidity. “Some artists get to a point, then keep trying to improve, but it can change the entire feeling if you overwork it,” she says. “I like to paint loose—when you keep doodling on it, you lose that fluidity.” The challenge of knowing when to stop is something Walters finds both difficult and exhilarating. Still, the challenge has kept her engaged and continually evolving as an artist.
Though Walters has achieved success with her original works, she is equally passionate about working with collectors on custom commissions. She values the collaboration and input of her clients, working closely with them to understand their vision and translate it onto the canvas. “I like to take someone’s vision and what they want in their home and work with them,” she says. “When I’m doing a commission, often my clients will pop in the studio on Daniel Island and say, ‘I would like that a different shade,’ or ‘I like that process.’ I always like the input of the collector.”
This openness to collaboration and the desire to bring a client’s vision to life are testaments to Walters’ dedication to her craft. She takes pride in the relationships she builds with her clients, seeing each commission as an opportunity to grow as an artist and connect more deeply with her community.
Since first picking up a paintbrush, the artist’s style has evolved significantly. “It’s become looser and more impressionistic,” she says. Over the years, Walters’ style has become more intuitive, focused on conveying the emotions and beauty she feels when she observes the natural world.
Walters’ works often carry a message of positivity and hope. “Even if it’s raining, there is something beautiful about everything out there. Even if it’s a small inkling of beauty, I try to convey what I feel when I see God’s world,” she says. This sense of wonder and reverence for nature is a constant theme in her work, and it is one of the reasons why her paintings resonate so deeply with viewers.
Today, she is represented at Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant and the Charleston Artist Guild downtown. “They are really interesting galleries; they are not for profit, and we artists work there. With both, there’s always a way to give back—like donating from the profits we make to students, and there’s always something going on,” she says. As for her future, the artist remains focused on continuing to paint and learn. “We just got back from Sea Island, Georgia, and I’m working on some small studies and larger pieces. I hope to paint until the day I die.” *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
