Judy Schrader describes the recognition as the “best accomplishment of my career.”

Art has been a lifelong passion for Schrader and she credits her late grandfather, a self-taught nature artist, for spurring that passion.

That childhood interest turned into an adult passion around 1980 when she started working in oils.

“My paintings are a part of me that I love to share with everyone who enjoys and appreciates art as much as I do,” she explained. “Being primarily a wildlife and nature artist, it helps living in a small community surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest. It is good for my imagination and creativity to take walks in the woods and fields to view all the beautiful scenery and animals that enhance our country life.

“When painting animals I like to capture their spirit and soul through their faces and eyes. I strive to show their personalities, their strengths, looks of innocence and curiosity.”

It was just six or seven years ago that she started working miniature and just five years ago that she started showing those works.

So what meets the definition of miniature?

Schrader explained that miniature is defined as 1/6th scale with no head in a portrait exceeding two inches.

“It has to be extremely realistic,” she added.

Why did she enter the miniature world?

“I met several artists that did minis,” she said, explaining she thought it was “really cool” something that she “wanted to try.”

Schrader was aware of the MMA but didn’t know she was being considered for admission until she received the call telling her she was in.

The MAA will accept up to 10 artists each year, though just four were included in the 2020 class. An artist has to have been admitted into at least eight competitive shows throughout the United States in the last five years, securing awards from at least two of those shows. Candidates are nominated and at least five works are reviewed in the admission process.

That lack of knowledge that she was being considered turned into a blessing as Schrader explained the process was something she “couldn’t stress about.”