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About me
Experience
On my return from working in New Zealand as a journalist, I went to Gt Yarmouth College of Art and Design for an art foundation course. I took a break for renovating an old house and having children, before painting and drawing again full-time. I favour pastels, oils and charcoals, with work selected by local galleries and national and international exhibitions. Throughout my painting life I have continued learning, both from my own work, and from other painters by attending workshops in Europe and the UK.
This photo shows me sketching the mussel fishermen and women one November.
Style
My art style is characterized by bold colours, fluid lines, and a sense of movement. I love to explore different techniques in my main mediums of pastels and oils. Beginning painting in oils was wonderful as it is such a versatile medium. I then had fun using some of those techniques in watercolours - with several works selected for the prestigious Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours at the Mall Galleries, London.
Lockdown opened up new possibilities. I drew my homebound family in pastels every chance I could (they were remarkably tolerant of being stared at). Such an expressive medium really suited my learning how to catch those snatched moments inside my home. To me, pastels feel fresh and new with ginormous untapped scope. The idea of experimenting with different ways of using these coloured sticks is hugely exciting. Over the last year I can see that my oils are gaining life from what I'm learning from pastels. Long may this continue.
This picture is a pastel of my daughter and her partner having breakfast after she'd been sea swimming (hence the down jacket).
SKETCHING
By learning from other artists, I now sketch outside rather than lug loads of painting stuff to inaccessible places. Direct drawing has many advantages - it encourages observation, fluid and fast interpretation of the moment with movement, and promotes the use of imagination and memory to evoke the 'feel' of the day, rather than the literal scene.
I paint and sketch outside in oils, dry media and watercolours to capture the movement and light of the fishermen, fruit farmers, bait diggers and reed cutters (with the odd pig and cow thrown in - such as saddleback Elizabeth below with her babies).
This picture shows reed cutter George holding my dropped brush from the previous day. I was using dry media that day.
INSTITUTE OF EAST ANGLIAN ARTISTS
As a kind and gregarious painter I enjoy being part of a group promoting art.
- 2020-2022. Elected President of the Institute of East Anglian Artists a prestigious group set up to act as centre of excellence for existing and aspiring artists. I considered that one of my main tasks was to bring in new people, new ideas, and to welcome and facilitate people. To introduce diversity to take the group onwards . Together with a group of keen volunteer, we organised three of the most successful shows in the groups history.
- 2019. Began monthly zoom workshops to increase accessibility for everyone, and keep up morale during Covid.
- 2017. Elected full member of the IEA.
- Ran many workshops tutored by national painters, among them, David Curtis, Daniel Shadbolt and Haidee-Jo Summers, as well as the members.
GALLERIES
All my current work is for sale at Pink Foot Gallery, Norfolk,
EXHIBITIONS
- 2023. Solo Show, Pink Foot Gallery, Cley. Taken on there in 2008 and have a permanent presence.
- 2022-2024. Pastel Society Opens, Mall Galleries, London.
- 2021-2022. New English Art Club Opens, Mall Galleries, London.
- 2019. Figure This! Arts Council funded show in Greenwich of figurative art.
- 2015-2023. Institute of East Anglian Artists, Open and Members Shows, Norfolk and Suffolk.
- 2013. Solo show, Pink Foot Gallery and publication of my book 'Working North Norfolk, An Artist's Storey.' Published by Red Hare Publishing.
- 2011-2017. Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries, London.
- 2012. NEAC open, Mall Galleries.
- 2010. Russell Gallery, London.
- 2010. Royal Society of British Artists, Mall Galleries.
- 2008,2010,2012. East Anglia Art Fund Opens, Castle Museum, Norwich.
- 1987, 1988. Group shows in St Gregory's, Norwich.
- Pastel picture: Them Birds! Them Birds! Pastel Society 2022.
SOME PAINTINGS
This pastel collage is of a group of women mending nets in Getaria, Spain. The nets stretched along right along the quay in the working boats section. Their movements were like a dance, and the nets were surprisingly hard on the knees so must have been tough on their hands. Pastel Society 2024.
This shows young Henry - one of the new fishermen - getting his boat hooked up on a swelly day. NEAC Open 2022. While Henry ran for his tractor he asked me to stop his boat being pulled back out to sea - me feet got wet!
Passing It On- PaiNTING IS FUN!
Passing on my enthusiasm and joy in the job are important to me, whether it's in general encounters on the beach, or in dedicated classes.
As a council member of the prestigious Institute of East Anglian Artists, for several years I organised plein air painting workshops with top artists such as David Curtis, Daniel Shadbolt and Haidee-Jo Summers; Lockown meant I switched to running online workshops. Helping other people learn and enjoy painting and drawing is hugely rewarding.
In 2024 I will be running a class in Norfolk for a group of varied painters, each using their favourite medium. Over the years I have learned how differently we all see. For me it's colour, whereas some painters it's tones, such as the late and great, Ken Howard. He told me he spent many years improving his use of colour. We all begin from a different visual place and that means our paintings are always individual.
My aim in my teaching workshops is to help each person paint the way she/he wants using their individual strengths.
Please contact me if interested in a class/ interested in my work.
Insta:@hodgson8363
Facebook: jane hodgson (black and white circular photo of me in hat sailing).