"Studio practice is something that you develop over time and take with you wherever you go."

Great artists make artists. And to prove that point, over 70 of today's greatest have contributed their work in support of Children's Museum of the Arts' Emergency Arts Education Fund, establishing utterly ambitious art programs in New York City schools that need them most.

Bidding for the online auction concludes Thursday, October 19 at 12 PM EDT. Bid now. Bid often. Bid here.

Below, meet auction artist Judd Schiffman.

Artwork by Judd's daughter, age 6

Do you have a favorite memory of making art as a child?

I drew the invitation to my Bar Mitzvah when I was 12. I used pen and ink and finished it at my Dad’s desk. I had never used ink before and my dad taught me how to cross hatch. It took several afternoons to complete, and I was very happy with the result. It was a copy of a drawing of an old Rabbi…I don’t know who the artist was, but I remember feeling connected to the original artist, and to the quiet of the room where I was drawing. I also remember making a drawing the first day it snowed when I was seven or eight. It felt like an important event to commemorate. 

What advice would you give to young artists who wish to pursue an art practice?

Persevere. Studio practice is something that you develop over time and take with you wherever you go. It is a way of looking at, and navigating the world – unique to each artist. Don’t be afraid of failure.

How does working with children inspire you?

Children see the world clearly and their creative expressions are pure. Children are the best teachers.

When did you first know you were going to be an artist? 

I knew my whole life but I did not decide to pursue it seriously until I was 23.

Can you describe a formative experience visiting a museum or gallery?

There is a very large wooden Buddha at the RISD Museum in Providence, RI. It was the first museum I visited as a child and we went there on a class trip. I was in awe. I went back to draw the Buddha a lot as a teenager, and then again in my 20s. I return every so often and draw the same Buddha.

Judd Schiffman 

In My Own Image 

porcelain, stoneware, glaze, gold luster

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