Brush & Lens: Paintings by Judy Todd and photographs by Dan Kee

This show, Brush and Lens, pairs paintings by Judy Todd and photographs by Dan Kee that represent places we love. An image created through a camera lens and one by painting with a brush will express thoughts and feelings about a place very differently, and we hope that looking at both will enhance viewers’ experience. Thanks to Roberta Wong, curator at the Portland Chinatown Museum and curator of Dan’s Uncle Bue Kee’s retrospective exhibition there inOctober 2023, for the idea for this show.

Alaska

We love to visit Alaska for amazing sights, from bubble-netting whales and other wildlife to tremendous mountains and glaciers. It is impossible to capture it all via brush or lens, but it is fun to try.

Alaska Above and Below

combined photographs

30x20

Northface Lodge

photograph

20x30

Alaska Memories

watercolor collage

16x15 framed 20x20

The Arctic

In 2017 we traveled thousands of miles to the Arctic Circle to see a Snowy Owl, but we saw it only from several hundred yards away. After coming home, Judy made an abstract painting of two Snow Owls in an Arctic colored landscape. In early 2023, a Snowy Owl got lost and turned up in Cypress! So Dan got great close up photos of a Snowy Owl close to home.

Barrow Tundra

photograph

20x30

Cypress Rooftop

photograph

20x16

Arctic 3

watercolor

15x11 framed 20x16

The Beach

Our concerns about global warming and rising sea levels are reflected in our portrayals of the local beach in Seal Beach. Dan’s photo shows the work of preparing the beach every winter to prevent flooding. Judy’s mixed media collage suggests the sea reaching into the homes along the beach when such preparations become inadequate.

Oceans Rising

photograph

16x24

The Edge

mixed media collage

12x9 framed 20x16

Bosque del Apache

The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico is a favorite place for us. We enjoy the beauty of the southwestern landscape, the abundant birdlife, and hiking the many trails.

Bosque Birdscape

photograph

16x24

Up Canyon Trail

watercolor

12x7 framed 20x16

Bryce Canyon

From our October 2022 road trip to Utah, these two works attempt to capture the absolutely astounding sight of the colorful and weird land formations at Bryce Canyon National Park. But still, nothing compares to being IN this place, where the land itself is an enormous amazing artwork that interacts with the changing light.

Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

photograph

20x30

Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

mixed media

15x15 framed 20x20

Bolsa Chica

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach is one of our favorite places, but its beauty is subtle and dependent on the light. It’s easy to drive by and never notice it. Judy’s transparent watercolor feels to her like Bolsa Chica in the very early morning light, while Dan’s photo captures the similar hues of the inland landscape there.

Bolsa Chica Landscape

photograph

24x16

Bolsa Chica Morning

transparent watercolor

11x15 framed 16x20

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are fascinating to visit, because there are many species of birds and animals that live only there and they do not fear humans. Thus, Dan was able to take many interesting photos, up close and personal, while Judy did a great deal of sketching.

Galapagos Frigate Bird

photograph

16x24

Galapagos Sketches

combined photographs of watercolor and ink sketches 

20x16

The Moon

Who doesn’t love a beautiful moon? Dan made a composite photo of the stages of the November 2022 “blood moon” lunar eclipse. One night in September 2023 when a super moon was expected, Judy was driving east on the 101 up some hills that edge the San Fernando Valley. Suddenly a huge, shining, golden moon appeared to be hanging just a couple of feet above the dark hills. Wow, wow, was all she could think, and she had to rush home to paint it.

Lunar Eclipse

composite photograph

16x20 

Valley Moon

mixed media

11x10 framed 18x18

Southern Utah

In October 2022 we took a road trip throughout Southern Utah. Among all the yellows and reds, umbers and ochres of the high desert landscape, the deep black ravens stood out as a mysteriously meaningful presence. It was easy to see them as messengers from another realm.

Ravens Confer

photograph

16x20

Messengers

watercolor and ink

15x15 framed 20x20

Waterfalls

Kauai Garden Island Falls

photograph

20x16

Multnomah Falls

watercolor

14x7 framed 20x12

Some Final Words

We hope you enjoyed looking at similar artistic subjects interpreted through two different personalities, as well as two very different methods of production. We hope the pairings added to your experience of seeing our art. We enjoyed putting this show together and our many discussions about how best to do it. In fact, we recommend this project to other two artist families!

If you are interested in owning one of these artworks, please contact Dan at dwkee1@yahoo.com or Judy at jtodd@csudh.edu