Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jody Rigsby. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jody, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In 2015, my husband and I had the typical suburban lifestyle: brick home, yard, and two cars. We felt stuck and bored and asked each other what we each wanted out of life. He wanted to travel and I wanted an adventure. We decided that we would sell everything a trailer, a truck to haul it, and travel while working.

Within three months, we left our friends, family, and familiar surroundings, to go on the road.

Beginning this lifestyle was scary. We had no idea if we could sustain ourselves or if we’d like living in this new lifestyle. It was an adjustment from so many aspects, yet the biggest change was transforming how I paint.

Before, living in a house, I made large-scale paintings with oil paint. Over the years, painting in a 200 square foot trailer, I had to adjust; eventually switching mediums and using smaller canvas. Now, most of my work is painted on paper or board. And I use watercolors and water mixable oils, which is very easy to store and ship when sold. I had galleries, but now all my sales are through social media.

It’s almost 9 years on the road and we love it. The initial apprehension has turned into comfort and now we can’t imagine living any other way. The amount of freedom we feel is something I can’t describe.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am fascinated by the natural world. Specifically, they way plants vibrate and the energetic exchange between animals and their environment. I find it to be a spiritual and intimate, a kind of give and take of energy that happens as they are simply being.

My work strives to capture that tender moment in a painting.

When I started seriously painting I was 40 years old. While I have always been creative, I now want to say something with my art.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

At the beginning of my career I heard a lot of talk from other artist about galleries, magazine articles and entering professional shows. I thought that was the only way to be successful.

After I started traveling I found that I had to make my own description on what a successful career looks like to me. I am happiest and most creative going my own speed. This slower way of being lets me experiment more and paint in the different styles that I feel in the moment. It gives me the time to be critical of my work and the space to make alterations and corrections without pressure.

I paint so that the painting can speak the emotions that I want to portray. It’s necessary that I do that in my own interpretation and in my own time.

I finally feel proficient in the technical aspects of painting, so I can focus on bringing the spiritual world onto the canvas.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’ve had the honor of witnessing the reactions of people with my work. Sometimes they will cry. Sometimes they smile with so much heart that I can see the impact it made, truly touching them. Instilling that raw emotion is the ultimate compliment and reassures me that to create is my purpose on this earth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jodyrigsby.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodyrigsby/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodyrigsbyfineart/