Off The Wall Magazine Q&A with Jodi Edwards
4/1/2019
Maine. Six generations of my husband’s family have owned a 52-acre farm in Surry. As a result, I have been coming to Maine for over 20 years. We also have a camp on Patten Pond in Ellsworth that turns into my outdoor studio in the summer. I love Maine, and have never felt more at home anywhere else. The peacefulness, the water, and big open spaces all feed my creativity.
Inspiration. I grew up in a very artistic family, which has been the driving force in my creativity. I started out in my 20s, as an art model working for Parsons School of Design in New York City, and worked for some very well-known artists, including David Salle and Larry Rivers. Norman Bluhm was especially influential on my becoming an artist.
Medium. My preferred medium is acrylic.
Artist Hero. Joan Miró has had the biggest influence on my work. I also love Jackson Pollock, Wassily Kandinsky, Willem de Kooning, and Helen Frankenthaler. My favorite living artist is Lisa Noonis.
Studio. I work in a bright, spacious studio on the second floor of our house. It has a lot of windows with fantastic light. I always paint to music and have certain Pandora stations I listen to for certain parts of the painting. Sometimes I dance while I’m painting.
Where in Maine. My husband and I have been rebuilding our fire-damaged farmhouse in Surry and it’s turned into a big art project for me. I am the general contractor. We love living full-time in Surry. It’s a very small town. We know our neighbors and the community definitely cares about each other. I learned a new verb when I moved here: neighboring. It's when you just pop in on your neighbors to chat for a bit. I had to get used to it at first, but it’s kind of nice. People have time for each other here.
Fun Fact. I worked briefly for Ella Fitzgerald when I was 30 years old. I got to be her dresser one night at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Education. I am self-taught. I have learned a lot from other artists, as well as through studio visits and critiques from gallery owners.
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