We recently connected with Jodi Fuchs and have shared our conversation below.

Jodi, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

One day way back in 2009 I was wandering through my local Target and as I perused the art in the wall decor section I thought, how do I get my work licensed and into stores like this? How can I make something once and get paid for it multiple times? I picked up a few of the giclee prints on display and looked on the back to discover the names of the artists who had created the work. I googled a few of them and wrote emails asking them how they got their work into Target. One very gracious artist responded, told me the name of her art publisher and I submitted work to them. Much to my delight, they responded quite quickly and signed me to be one of their artists resulting in a 10 year relationship. Ultimately my work did end up in Target and a few other stores like World Market and Zgallerie. I’m now with another art publisher and they represent over 300 images that I’ve created over the years. It’s a great way to get the work out there on a commercial level and has led to some amazing placements. This avenue, coupled with my fine art that is one of a kind and shown at galleries, has allowed me to make a living doing what I love.
Multiple income streams is the ticket. As an artist, I am always looking for new ways to get the work out there and I advise this for other creatives who wish to pursue a full time gig doing what they love. Making the work is one thing, channels of distribution another. I’ve found it’s important to toggle between the two, the creative side and the business side and keep energizing both of these aspects consistently. I forgot to mention that as I was hoping to get into Target I made a painting called “Prosperity” that had the actual logo of the store in the painting. It was my way of putting it out there into the quantum soup that this was something I wanted to call in and it worked!

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

I’m a contemporary abstract painter currently residing in St Petersburg Florida via Los Angeles (and Hawaii and Santa Fe). I began my artistic career as a set painter for film and television which segued into decorative painting high end homes of LA. There I honed my painting skills like color mixing, rendering and composition by doing murals and all sorts of surface enhancements. It was fun and physical and really gratifying to uplift and transform spaces on such a grand scale.

During my years as a decorative artist I was also deep into studying various mystical practices like meditation, Feng Shui, Space Clearing, massage, energy healing and Kundalini yoga. These inquiries into the metaphysical aspects of life became my inspiration as I started to make abstract paintings. I liked the idea of making the invisible visible and the experience of creating something out of nothing. Ha, that may be my book title.

Now I work with art consultants, interior designers, galleries and art publishers to get my work out into the world. I’m currently in negotiations to provide art for a hotel in downtown Los Angeles where prints of my work will hang in all 200 rooms plus various places throughout the hotel. Excited about that one! I really love collaborating with clients to create the perfect art enhanced environment.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think the most rewarding part of being an artist is that I get to make my living by being curious and by playing in the proverbial sandbox . It keeps things interesting and fresh and this suits my personality. I never did well in “normal” i.e. more structured jobs. I also love that I can live anywhere and paint. I tend to move around a lot to live in different places and I can take my work with me wherever I go. Location independent! The various places I’ve lived definitely show up in the work and they are a visual diary for me of where I’ve been both physically and internally.

I enjoy the deep listening that is required to make a good piece of work. Because I make abstracts, my goal is to be in a state of flow where I follow intuitive impulses without a lot of planning ahead. This is both daunting and exhilarating. When a painting is in the “ugly” phase it can be quite a challenge to stay with it. But I’m sure, a lot of artists would agree, that when you hit that sweet spot in a piece when it all starts coming together…that’s the moment we live for in our creative process. I think to myself, this painting has a pulse, it’s alive! That’s when I know it’s complete.

Another deeply rewarding part of being a creative in this world that is headed toward more AI in every aspect of life is the connection to the human spirit. I’m all for technology, but up to a point. We must maintain a connection to things like Beauty, Love, Sovereignty. Artists know about these things and we are truly essential to the transcendent human experience.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission as an artist is to create more Beauty in the world. Space by space, Wall by wall. Painting by painting.

When I first visited St. Petersburg Florida, I did an e-bike tour of all the murals downtown. I was gobsmacked by the talent and scale of the work. It made me want to move here because I could feel that art was a big part of the culture.

It really makes a difference in cities, in businesses and in homes to have inspiring art that adds color, energy and vitality. It draws people in. It’s good for commerce and it’s an instant mood elevator. It brings soul to a place. I want to be a part of this process with what I create: upliftment and inspiration are my goals.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jodifuchs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodifuchsart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodifuchsart
• Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/329426

Image Credits
Remy Haynes took the photo of the artist. All other photos are by Jodi Fuchs