|
 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 . |
