Click "refresh" on your browser for updates  

 

 


Restaurants   Movie Schedules Events Calendar   TV GUIDE Online Finance Travel

 Real Estate   News /Sports/ Finance  Health & Fitness Monthly Horoscope  Shopping

        HOME l BACK
 
 
 

 

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT :Jovann (Jodi) Armstrong-Local Artist

Keep it Simple
It's in the tiniest of things that beauty is found
 
by Sharon Furrate

 

 

Jovann (Jodi) is a person I had the pleasure of meeting during the Christmas Holidays. My dear friend, Kathy Harmon, called me to go with her to an arts open house gathering in her old neighborhood and I hem and hawed a bit and then threw on some jeans and a sweater and met up with Kathy. There were 3 homes in the cul de sac of the neighborhood and each home was open for friends to swing by and view paintings, jewelry, pottery, and enjoy some wine and cheese. I am so glad I went that night because I met Jovann (Jodi).
Kathy loves her work and knew I would too. Well, as always, I wanted to find out more. One thing I can say is that she is a self-motivated artist and that is admirable.
Jodi shares her passion in her own words and she does believe in keeping it simple:
Q: Please share some background on your life as an artist and what motivates you:
A: I am new to the world of art, having only painting for about 6 years. It is my passion. I did not go to art school but chose instead to raise a family and move around the country with my husband of 30 years. I am a self taught and motivated. Books, DVDS and workshops have been my teaching tools. The self-motivation stems from my obsession to learn as much as possible. I paint almost every day. If I am not painting, I am reading about painting or studying drawing or anatomy… anything that will make me a better artist. My mantras are "keep it simple" and" we don't learn to paint we paint to learn". As for my motivation, it's easy---I am never satisfied. I will continue to strive to paint better. It's exciting to learn new things.
Q. What medium do you prefer?
A: The medium that I enjoy using most is oils. I love the feel of the paint, the smell, and most of all the forgiveness. You can make thick juicy strokes of paint or thin transparent washes. You can scrape the paint with a palate knife or wipe the entire painting down to nothing and start over. The other medium that I have discovered recently is pastel painting. The richness of the colors can be amazing and they are also a great travel companions. They are easy to bring along. Another medium that I enjoy working with is graphite. Lately, I have been attending drawing session and my hope is to show my figurine work.
Q: Where can one find your work and are you participating in any upcoming art shows?
A: My work is hanging at Rue Cou Cou, which is located behind Circa 1857. I am very thankful to them for giving me the opportunity to showcase my work. They have made a lot of changes. It's all very exciting. They are in the process of scheduling different shows throughout the year. I hope to participate in as many as I can with the possibility of a solo show as well. Of course if someone is interested they can contact me personally for a sneak peek of my studio. Or just to meet Maggie and Jack-my beloved dogs.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish with your work? And, who are some of your mentors?
A: The most important thing that I hope to accomplish with my work is being able to make a connection with the viewer. Art is an unspoken language; it is a direct communication between the artist and viewer. For me it's learning that you don't just paint an apple you paint the feel of the apple. It's learning how to translate that feeling through paint. It's learning to see differently. And, ultimately you hope the viewer sees things in another way. A friend of mine gave me a quote from Paul Klee that read, "Art does not reproduce what we see; rather it makes us see." There is so much truth in that quote.
As far as mentors or people who have inspired me --there are many. David Gallup, Kim English, Roberta Remy are some that I have had the pleasure and honor of studying under. Each has brought a new dimension to my painting. I hope someday to make them proud.
Q: What is your personal philosophy when it comes to art? For example, the term "fine art" comes up a lot in artistic circles, but how do you see "fine art"?
A: I really feel that my personal philosophy about art is still being shaped and modeled. Everyone brings something to the table. We all possess our own likes, dislikes, life experiences, things we have read and have been exposed to in life. For me, to define fine art, I will quote and agree with the contemporary master Richard Schmid who says: "The artistic act of producing something that is fine is mainly the act of caring, giving and loving. Success of a work is when the viewer feels the same wonder that drew you to the subject in the first place."
Q. If there were something you want others to know about you as an artist what would it be? And, who do you admire (artists) in the community and why?
A: " Every painting is a self-portrait. It is a mirror of not only the painters understanding of the craft but also the painter's discernment and insight", says David Leffel. That would explain the piles of unfinished canvases or paintings that lay in the corners of my studio. Sometimes we have to fail to succeed, but with practice and persistence success will come.
Now, regarding some artists I like, that would Carol Hallock. I love the looseness of her style. It's amazing how she can make her paintings look effortless. Baton Rouge has a lot of really good artists. Alex Harvie is a friend of mine; I love his tenacity and his vision. I thank him for all the talks we have had about art.
Q: Jodi-we got a glimpse into you as an artist, but what about you as a person:
A: I did not grow up in Louisiana, but fortunately have found my way here. My father is from Texas and my mother is from New York. I grew up in a military family. So, I spent a lot of time moving. My childhood and adult life involved moving like from Puerto Rico to New York and many places in-between. For the past eight years, I have lived in Baton Rouge. This is the longest I have lived anywhere. As for my lifetime of moving, I think it's over. Retirement is just around the corner and our first grandchild has come along. Think it's time to put some roots down and purchase the burial plots. Just kidding! I don't have a lot of time for other hobbies but I do enjoy cooking and entertaining friends and family. I like to travel, which usually involves painting. I don't leave home without my plein-aire painting box. I like to garden but hate fire ants! I have two great dogs, Maggie a golden retriever and Jack a Cock-a-Zoo. I enjoy good wine, but find it's always better when shared with some good friends!
Jodi is an inspiration to me and I am sure to others. For one thing, she makes me want to try and paint a little bit every day or at least more often. To see her work, visit Rue Cou Cou at 1857 Government Street. To reach Jodi call 225-761-1473. Her e-mail is rarmstrong941@mac.com .

Links:   Events Calendar l Entertainment l Movie Schedules l Restaurants
Government Services l Locations l
 Apartments-Real Estate -Loans l Cars
Local TV Stations  l Health & Fitness l Jobs l Kids l  Travel  l Horoscope
Lottery & Powerball
News /Sports/ Finance lRadio stations l TV Schedule
 
 

User Agreement & Privacy Policy l Advertise with us l About us

Copyright © 2000- 2010 TownFavorites.com. Tigris Inc. All Rights Reserved.