“The truth is, I didn’t do an album like this sooner because I had other projects on my mind. “They say after the plague came the Renaissance,” Judy says with a good-natured laugh, loosely referencing the pandemic. It unfolds as if Judy curated a museum exhibit of her life, and welcomed us into a retrospective of her most formative moments, some big and public, and some intensely personal and intimate. It features 12 new recently-written modern folk songs, and a bonus track of her evergreen, “The Blizzard.” “Spellbound” is an introspective and impressionistic album. It marks the first time ever she wrote all the songs on one of her albums. The 13 song album is a special entry in her oeuvre. The cultural treasure’s 55th release, “Spellbound,” out February 25, 2022, finds Judy enjoying an artistic renaissance. Now, in her 6th decade as a singer and songwriter, Judy is experiencing a profound level of growth and prolific creativity. Her discerning palette, and her literary gifts, have enabled her to evolve into a poetic, storyteller songwriter. On her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” she curated a stunning collection featuring originals alongside songs by not-yet household names such as Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, and adventurous selections by Jacques Brel and Francesco Landini. I do not have to go far as this is a painter’s paradise.In her 50-plus years in music, Judy Collins has always exhibited impeccable taste in songcraft. Almost every fall I drive through the mountains of Western North Carolina searching for the right landscape. 3 “Fall Treasure” This is a scene I captured in the Smokey Mountain National Park. “Sun Rise in the Mountains” was a combination of many scenes I have painted in our beautiful Smokey Mountains. Normally I paint from my own sketches and photos, but this was so striking a scene, that it inspired me to capture it in oil.
“Crossing into light”….My daughter, a photographer, went to Duke Gardens to “chase the light”. The gallery is open from 11:00am until 6:00pm Monday through Sunday. Check out her website at and be sure to drop by Asheville Gallery of Art this October to view her outstanding autumn paintings. Judy’s work is represented in several galleries. This technique has given her freedom of expression, using color to its fullest extent. Currently, her passion lies in painting landscapes, with a palette knife, in oils. Moving to North Carolina, she placed her work in galleries and taught classes in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. She then experimented with different mediums producing work that was both realistic and abstract. This was a pivotal time of discovery as she learned the skills needed to express her ideas in paint. A graduate of Ohio University, Judy Rentner did not pursue art until years later when she took workshops, in watercolor, from various artists. Everything about the creative process is personal and many viewers find themselves drawn to Judy’s unique, inviting style. Painting in oils, with a palette knife, enabled her to achieve the essence of a scene in light and color. Although she has been painting most of her adult life, it was here that she found her creative style. Having lived in 10 different states from coast to coast, she still considers North Carolina one of the most beautiful. Judy Rentner has been painting the landscapes of Western North Carolina for 23 years and they continue to inspire her. Although an artist cannot compete with God’s creations, she can capture the awe-inspiring essence of a moment in time to share with her viewers. Autumn colors are like precious gems: topaz, sapphires, emeralds, rubies…, an endless sparkling array of brilliance. Of all of the seasons of the year, fall is the crescendo, the last burst of beauty before nature’s tones soften and become quiet in the winter months. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 7th from 5:00-8:00pm. Asheville Gallery of Art presents Judy Rentner’s rich, colorful paintings, during the month of October, in an exhibition titled ‘Nature’s Gems’.
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