Judy Manherz has been focusing primarily in chalk pastels for the past 16 years although she has been producing artistic pieces using other media for many more years. She works mainly from photographs, which allow her to complete compositions from around the world. Her projects include portraits of people, pets, and wildlife along with an array of composites.

Judy’s life has been surrounded by pets, particularly dogs and cats. She trained dogs for several years and is the owner and trainer of a therapy dog with St. John Ambulance. Her love for animals is emphasized by her ability to capture her subject and bring it to life on paper. Her paintings have caught the attention of various dog show/training organizations and portraits as top winning trophies have been awarded for several dog shows and obedience trials.

Awards won by Judy include an Award of Excellence and Members’ Choice Award with the Nepean Fine Arts League for “Who Let the ‘Dobes Out?” and an Honorable Mention for “Afternoon Watch.” Her work has been sold on National television through the Public Art Auction, in Watertown, NY, and through the CNIB Art Auction at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa. She was invited into the Wildlife Festival to exhibit in 2004-2007.

Judy was raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Waterloo, where she studied Kinesiology. She worked as an exercise specialist before entering police work. A former police officer, Judy now works as a professor in Police Foundations at Algonquin College. She resides in Ottawa with her two sons.