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

Hi Chris , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I feel like I was pretty much born into the arts. Growing up, both of my parents would bring me art supplies and encourage me to create. My mother loves to draw and paint and my dad is a builder who designs furniture and sculpts. So, I started on a creative path at an early age. Making artwork just made sense to me… it was something that I just did, and something that I thought everyone did. I had some struggles relating to my peers in elementary school, and was teased quite a lot. I was shy, introverted, and incredibly quiet. As I got older, I found that I could relate with others through my artwork. Teachers and peers would praise me for my drawings, and that would encourage me to continue on my artistic pathway. I found my “voice” through art-making,

I would continue taking as many art classes as I could in high school & college, and branched out into many different medias. During my Sophomore year of college I was having difficulties deciding upon a major. I loved art-making, but I also wanted to make money, so I needed to be practical in my decision. I called my dad out of frustration and indecision, and he suggested being an Art Teacher. Everything clicked at that point, it just felt so natural. It’s like I was on a path obscured by trees, and I finally found a clearing where I could see where the path was heading.

Chris , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Most of my artwork explores nature and human’s relationship with our environment and universe. I have always been obsessed with finding meaning in things, and making art helps me to understand my place in the universe. I have been influenced by many artists, but some of my favorites include: Ivan Albright, Heironymus Bosch, and Albrecht Durer. They have had a strong influence on the way I tell a story through my art, and the level of detail that I use when inking my drawings. My artwork has often been described as an “Obsessive Narrative.” I believe that imagination is a fuzzy thing, without form… and as we articulate it into reality it takes a life of its own. I start with an idea or concept, and begin to loosely sketch out my ideas with pencil at first, and then I turn to ink. I work primarily in ink, because I enjoy the permanence and the fact that there is no turning back from a mark that you make. If you make a “mistake” you have to find a way to cover it or incorporate it, and I feel like that helps the artwork evolve and grow into something new. I feel like I am often led by the mistakes that I have made in an artwork.

I am primarily an art teacher, but I do a lot of commissions, art shows, festivals, and personal work on the side. This side business has grown quite a lot over the years, and as an art teacher I have my summers free to create and exhibit.

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

I believe that making artwork is fulfilling both in the process of creating the art, and in appreciating it when it is finished. The artwork that I make becomes a bit of time capsule for my thoughts, experiences, and history. My artwork is a bit like a diary for me with hidden personal meaning. I enjoy seeing how other people connect with elements in my artwork, and form their own stories around the meaning.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Well, when I was in high school, I learned to let go of my vision a bit and let the artwork take on a form of its own. I remember getting so frustrated when I was younger, with struggling to make things look a certain way. I would have melt-downs where I would destroy my artwork, ripping it apart because it didn’t look the way that I wanted it to look. During my Junior year I was up late working on a self-portrait, and I started to mess things up… the proportions were off, and it just wasn’t looking right. I started to deface the artwork with ink, doodling over the face. I gave up and went to sleep. When I woke up, I looked at the artwork again and I started to see something in it. I liked how I had defaced it, and decided to keep going in that direction instead. I think we all get frustrated with our skills as we are growing, and that’s normal. It’s also good to remember that the artwork is never going to look exactly as we imagine, and that you need to let it evolve a bit on paper.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chodgeart.com
• Instagram: @chodgeart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chodgeart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hodge-b5521953
• Twitter: @chodgeart

Image Credits
Artwork by Chris Hodge