Thursday, August 13, 2009

My FUN Friend and Amazing Artist, Jodie


Jodie and I became fast friends when our now teen age girls were in preschool together. Often, our girls would play together after school. When the time came to be picked up, one of us would politely say to the one arriving to get her child .... "Won't you come in for a few minutes?"... followed, oh so politely, with, "and have a glass of wine?"

Minutes would turn to hours - we would have wonderful, deep conversations, or laugh until we cried, or talk and cry. Over time, we became dear friends. We both had husbands who worked late and if it was Friday we would completely blow off the dinner, bath, story and bedtime routine and talk until someone got hungry - sometimes one of us, sometimes our girls! Then, we'd thrill them with more play time and pizza delivered!

We have been through many creative efforts together and separately. We've shared the joys and sorrows of marriage and children. My sweet friend now lives in Houston, but our friendship endures.

She was recently in town for a visit, AND to drop off some of her latest paintings to red to be exhibited and sold. She struggles to find the time to paint like many of us do when daily responsibility has to take precedence over our passions . When she does fine the time,though, her talent flows - here is some of her lovely work and more about her, in her own words.....................


"Still Waiting"


"The Eyes Have It"


"Good for You"


"Keep on Truckin' "



"Resilience"



When did you start painting? Actually I started painting pretty late in life. I probably would've started much earlier if I hadn't had a 3rd grade art teacher who ridiculed my mushroom sculpture that I painted with polka dots. Polka dots apparently were not part of the lesson. After that little experience I just assumed I wasn't an artist. The idea of painting stayed in the back of my mind for years but I didn't pick it up again until I was 35. I guess I had had enough therapy by that point to cover the mushroom incident.


How often do you paint? Not nearly often enough. I tell myself I'm going to paint every day, but between the 5 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats and now one dead fish (may he rest in peace) I have a hard time squeezing it in.


Do you have a studio ? do you always paint indoors? I have an art room in my home, but I prefer to paint outside. Something about the light and the breeze and the freedom from walls really inspires me to move the paint across the canvas. I used to paint outside naked (we had a VERY HIGH fence)...now THAT was freedom. But then age, gravity and a few too many desserts took over and instead of feeling free I just feel like a freak painting outside naked.


Have you had any instruction or are you completely self taught? Thanks to my 3rd grade art teacher, I'm completely self taught.


How do you think your style developed and what inspires you? When I first started painting I painted with a brush but was never satisfied. Much like my life, I prefer the edges to be not so defined, so I moved to painting with palette knives. I love the texture that the knives create and the way I can get a lot of paint on the canvas fairly quickly. I'm inspired by anything that makes me smile. Whether its women laughing or the face of a cow, I want to create art that lifts peoples spirits and encourages them to take a break from the have-to's of life.



Do you have a favorite kind of art or a favorite artist? I love art that makes me smile. Whether its a collage, a sculpture, a photograph or a painting, I want to walk by it and have my heart lifted. I'm a fan of Melinda Hall. Her work captures my philosophy about my own art.


What do you hope to do artistically in the future? What do I HOPE to do??? Well I hope Oprah decides that the world needs to see my work and puts me on her show. That's what I hope. But since there's a small possibility that that may not happen, I guess my other hope would be to just move forward with the artistic process of experimenting with different mediums and continue to get my work out there to anyone who wants to have a little more joy in their life.




"Not Just a Piece of Meat II"

For more information or pricing, please visit red at www.redinfred.com






12 comments:

  1. Happy, happy, happy! these paintings make me happy! Loved the interview!

    ReplyDelete
  2. She is a great talent!! Wow, very special and unique - I loved the story of your friendship! Those kinds of friendships are rare and wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ann, I love Jodie's art- it all has such soul and spirit! And I LOVED this interview! Jodie sounds like a hoot and I can see how she would be a fun friend!
    Really fun post! Thanks for sharing your friend with us!
    joan

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is rare to find a person who brings a smile to you each and every time you are in their presence but this artist has mastered this gift. Her art is simply another way she expresses the beauty that lies in her soul. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this work, especially the cow paintings!

    ReplyDelete
  6. How much fun for you to enjoy your girlfriend. My oh my is she talented. Fun work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can tell your friend is fasinated with farms. Just take a look at these paintings...

    ReplyDelete
  8. you're friend's paintings are very impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks so much for your comment today, it was fun to come back here and see this fun artwork!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love Jodie's art... In fact, I think I may have a piece of her work! Did she by chance have some art at Zertz about 5 years ago? This was when Zertz was in their old location. Anyway, I bought this picture of this lady with a cocktail in her hand. I loved it because it reminded me of my mother-in-law. When I first saw it haning in the store I died laughing because it was just such a parody of my mother-in-law. Anyway, the lady in the painting had blonde hair and my mother-in-law was brunette. I told the saleslady in the store that I would buy that painting if the lady had brunette hair and she said, "that may not be a problem; let me call the artist, she lives here in Fred, and I'll see if she can't paint you what you want." Sure enough, she could and a couple of months later I had my painting! It is signed 'Jodie', so I'm sure it's her!

    On another note, I'm about to post some pics of my new slip covers of the fabric I bought at Threads and made by Debbie. So - thanks again for leading me in the right direction on all of that!

    Take care,
    Debi

    ReplyDelete
  11. the first image is very interesting to me. it look like it has another image forming or hidden out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like paintings like these it's fun figuring out what the images on the paintings were forming.

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails