We recently connected with Josie Rodriguez and have shared our conversation below.

Josie , appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I think that I have always been a risk taker. Not in the dangerous way but more as situations present themselves, or opportunity knocks, I will say to myself, “why not? or “go for it.” And for sure my heart pounds and my stomach flutters but something in me says just do it. In many ways being an artist is risk-taking. As artists we put ourselves out there in the world for all to see the creations we have made. Exhibiting at galleries, submitting to calls for art, teaching our craft to others, demonstrating and lecturing about what we know all takes courage. I think taking risks and being courageous are interwoven.

Ideas are fascinating and can be found in the most unusual places. Sometimes ideas come out of no where or by seeing something totally unrelated to the creative process. This is what happened when I took a risk and entered my name into a Call for Art at San Diego International Airport. I worked very hard at making sure that my proposal looked and sounded professional. One day while visiting my sister in Virginia I received a call telling me that my proposal had been accepted. I was overjoyed and yet knew that this honor came with many responsibilities and planning.

I would have a year to complete this project working with the curator and other staff at the airport. This was the first experience I had working collaboratively with an organization toward a specific goal and I was so thrilled to be doing so. It caused me to stretch my expectations and added more skills to my artistic and personal toolbox.

That year was filled with research, sketching, taking photographs, gathering materials, having discussions and creating art work. I work in the medium of encaustic, an ancient art form using hot wax and pigment. I made many new works especially three dimensional work since the majority of the art pieces would be displayed in six 24 x 24 inch plexiglas cubes in terminal 2 pre-security area. This experience was a turning point in my career as an artist and created other opportunities I could never have imagined.

Josie , 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?

I was born and raised in San Diego but have Minnesota roots as my parents traveled here to get out of the cold and snow. I come from Swedish and Eastern European ancestry and married my college sweetheart. I have been a teacher, wife and mother to three wonderful boys. My most recent work was as a clinical staff chaplain in both acute care hospital and hospice care. I decided that when I retired I would complete the writing of a book of poetry started several years before, and to begin working seriously as an artist. After almost 18 years in health care I found myself going more toward my artwork and the need to create. Little by little I learned about the art of encaustic, took more classes, practiced, experimented and began to teach from my home studio, loving every moment. My proudest moments come from seeing how far my students have gone to perfect their own art practice as serious artists. Teaching my art to others is as wonderful as it gets. Seeing the wonder and excitement from those that learn from me is healing both for them and for me. Having focused moments of creativity and those aha times is pure joy.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

What I have had to unlearn was my comparing myself to others and thinking that my work wasn’t enough, wasn’t good enough. Art can be a very competitive business and it is often difficult to keep one’s balance. I hadn’t realized how challenging it would be combining my art, with why I do my art, marketing and working with others. I must always remind myself why it is that I create my artwork. Navigating the business side with marketing, computer work and advertising is another challenge.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A large part of my practice is submitting work to exhibitions and to shows which oftentimes includes a lot of computer work. If I don’t know something then I find out the answer. I believe that I am resilient when my work isn’t selected for a show or exhibition. Persistence is part of this. Resilience and persistence are two qualities important for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.josierodriguez.com
• Instagram: josierodriguez1009
• Facebook: Josie.rodriguez.52

Image Credits
Al Rodriguez