Artist’s Statement
An early instructor told me my drawing skills were good, but that I wasn’t “seeing”. It took me a long time to understand her meaning.
Observing people in their environments and translating that image is a skill developed over a lifetime. I understand how people interact with others and with their surroundings, how a warm sunny place will make a person happily sit for a while; then distill this scene into its nuanced component shapes, colors, values and gestures.
I now realize that truly ‘seeing’ is not literal; to ‘see’ is multi-sensory. Even though I can faithfully — even beautifully — render a subject, that painting will not be complete until I can ‘touch’ the skin or fur of my subject, until I can ‘smell’ the air around them, when I can ‘hear’ what is going on in the scene — and when my audience can too. I strive to ‘see’ the scene so that every individual viewing my artwork can feel it’s emotion as if it were their own.
Bio
Jodie Kain’s first studio experience was in Robert Beverly Hale’s studio anatomy class at the Art Students League of New York, whose teaching descended in direct line from Jean-Léon Gérôme. This experience set the base of her artistic approach: an emphasis on strict anatomical modeling and other elements of the classical method. The highlight of working towards a BFA at Pennsylvania State University was studying under Artist in Residence Rob Neffson, a photorealist using the then-new methods of Richard Estes, building on the classical academic tradition. Later the opportunity to live in London and attend The Heatherley School of Fine Art arose. This training was supplemented by figure study classes at several artist’s studios, most notably the studio of June Collier.
After a career in high-end graphics systems, the Bargue & Cast curriculum at the Academy of Realist Art in Boston refreshed Jodie’s passion for realist pastel painting. Working full-time in her Leather District, Boston studio, Jodie focuses on the quiet reflective moments in life. Her paintings vibrate with emotion, set within a rhythmic world.
For more work, including old academic pieces, see Jodie’s Pinterest page. For random thoughts and work in progress follow jodie.pastels on Instagram.
Why I prefer pastels.
Working with pastels is a tactile experience that deepens the connection to my work. Pastels are a high-quality medium, utilizing the same pigments as oil paints; in fact, pastels are basically oil paints without the oil. While some of the colors are synthetic, sometimes to eliminate toxicity, the majority are blended from minerals. The composition of each pastel can be adapted to adjust the vibrancy of the colors and are compressed without fillers. The colors remain true and don’t fade or oxidize.
To further protect my work, I use acid-free surfaces (laid paper, velour, and sanded paper) and backing, and frame the pieces as soon as they are finished, using light-filtering Museum Glass, Conservation Glass, or for large pieces anti-static acrylic.
Exhibits & Awards
North River Arts Society Focus on Figures Exhibit, “God Is My Judge” & “Nearly There”, 157 Old Main Street, Marshfield Hills, MA, 15 April – 6 May 2023
Richeson75 Small Works Exhibit 2023 Finalist, “Early Winter”, Richeson Art Gallery, 557 Marcella Street, Kimberly Wisconsin, 20 March – 19 May 2023
“Justice in the Grove” – Art Fluent SHE, February 2023
“XIII” at Era Contemporary Gallery “Legends of the Moon”, Philadelphia, PA, December 2 2022 – January 15 2023. In addition to the exhibition a digital version of the painting will be included in the Lunar Codex: Polaris Mission. “The Polaris Collection” is associated with an Astrobotic Griffin/NASA VIPER mission, carrying a time capsule that will land in the vicinity of the Lunar South Pole. This will be the first significant placement of contemporary arts on the Moon in 50 years.
“Early Winter” – BoldBrush On-line Painting Competition, June 2022 FAV 15 (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“…and the boat made three” Silver Award, “Granite & Silk” Bronze Award – Camelback Gallery Realism 2022 on-line
16th International ARC Salon – Semi-Finalist: “The Crystal Gazer”
American Artists Professional League, 94th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, 7-18 November 2022, “The Crystal Gazer”, Honorary Award for Pastel
Adirondack Pastel Society 8th Annual National Pastel Exhibition, View, NY – 28, Old Forge, New York, June 11 – July 31 2022, “Grey Route Messaging” and “Too Many Sorrows” viewarts.org
SITE: Brooklyn Gallery, The Figure, May 31 – June 28 2022, “Nearly There” and “The Crystal Gazer”
American Women Artists 2022 Spring On-line Juried Show. “Cherbourg, 1955” May 2022 – May 2023.
National Art League’s 91st Annual Juried Open Exhibition, May 2 – June 4 2022, “All My Treasure”
American Artists Professional League’s Spring Members Show, April 25 – June 6 2022, “Featherweight Champ”
ArtWorks Gallery, Celebrating The Figure, 69 Main St., Ware, MA, April 9 – 30 2022, “Light Embrace” and “On Deck (The Veteran Fencer)”
61st Stockton Art League Juried Exhibition at the Haggin Museum, Stockton CA, April 7 – May 15 2022, “XIII” and “God Is My Judge”
Art Preservation Institute 2022 Curator’s Juried Art Competition, April 1 – May 31 2022, “Clammer” and “Sense of Place”. “Clammer” was awarded an Honorable Mention.
“All My Treasure” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, February 2022, FAV 15 (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
Hearts Need Art “I No Longer Fear Death, I Fear Not Living”, February 4 – March 4, 2022, “The Crystal Gazer”, 1st Place Award Painting/Drawing
Las Laguna Art Gallery, Human Faces & Figures, “God Is My Judge”, 6-29 January 2022
American Artists Professional League, 93rd Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, 8-19 November 2021, “Nearly There”, Blick Art Materials Award for Pastel
Arlington Center for the Arts — REAL!, 20 Academy Street, Arlington, MA, October 21, 2021 – January 14, 2022, “All My Treasure”
ARTinME, Boothbay Regional Arts Association, Boothbay Harbor, ME, October 16 — November 14 2021, “…and the boat made three”
The Guild of Boston Artists 2021 Regional Juried Exhibition, August 28 – September 25, 2021, “The Crystal Gazer”
“The Model” – The AAPL 2021 Studio Auction, 8-18 July 2021
“The Crystal Gazer” – BoldBrush On-line Painting Competition, April 2021 FAV 15 (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
American Artists Professional League 2021 On-line Members Show ‘Explore’, “XIII”, 1 April – 30 August 2021
Richeson75 Still Life/Floral International Art Competition & Exhibit 2021, Meritorious Entry “Grey Route Messaging”
“Nearly There”, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA – “Double Vision” 5-28 March 2021
“Breathing Dreams Like Air”, Richeson75 Animals, Birds & Wildlife Art Competition 2020 Meritorious entry
15th International ARC Salon – Semi-Finalists: “Breathing Dreams Like Air”, “XIII”, “Nearly There” & “Three Scotches In”
American Artists Professional League, 92nd Grand National Exhibit, 9 November – 31 December 2020, “On Deck (The Veteran Fencer)”, Pastel Society of America Award
Richeson75 Figure/Portrait International Art Competition & Exhibit 2020 Finalist “On Deck (The Veteran Fencer)” and Meritorious Entry “XIII”, Online Exhibit opens 29 October 2020
“Grey Route Messaging” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, August 2020, FAV 15 (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“Study of a Woman Laughing” – Gateway International Painting Competition, Finalist, July 2020
“Light Embrace”, Pastel Society of America 48th Annual Exhibition: Enduring Brilliance! along with The Butler Institute of American Art, on-line 8 September – 3 October 2020
American Artists Professional League 2020 On Line Members Show ‘Favorite Things’, “Brad”, 1st Place Pastel Award
“Breathing Dreams Like Air” – Gateway International Painting Competition, Best in Show, February 2020
“XIII” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, December 2019, Outstanding Pastel and FAV 15 (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“XIII” – Gateway International Painting Competition, Honorable Mention, December 2019
“Triad”, Richeson75 Animals, Birds & Wildlife Art Competition 2019 Meritorious entry
American Artists Professional League, 91st Grand National Exhibit, Salmagundi Club, NYC, 11 – 22 November 2019, “God Is My Judge”, Pastel Society of America Award
Richeson75 Figure/Portrait International Art Competition & Exhibit 2019 Finalist, “Nearly There” and “All My Treasure”, Exhibit at the Richeson Art Gallery, 557 Marcella Street, Kimberly, Wisconsin, 24 October – 14 December 2019
“Sense of Place”, Richeson75 Figure/Portrait International Art Competition 2019 Meritorious entry
Fay Chandler Emerging Art Exhibition, City of Boston, Scollay Square Gallery, Boston City Hall, August 12 – September 20 2019, “Light Embrace”
14th International ARC Salon Finalist, “God Is My Judge”
American Women Artists‘ exhibition hosted by the Steamboat Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, May 24 – September 2, 2019, “The Model”
Arnot Art Museum‘s 76th Regional Exhibition, Elmira, NY, March 16 – June 14, 2019, “Brad”
American Women Artists’ Spring Online Juried Show, 1 April 2019 – 1 April 2020, “God Is My Judge”
ARTinME, Boothbay Region Art Foundation Show, October 14 – November 12, 2018, “The Clammer” and “Boothbay Afternoon”
The Guild of Boston Artists 2018 Regional Juried Exhibition, September 8 – 29, 2018, “God Is My Judge”
“Brad” & “Light Embrace” – 2018 Northeast National Pastel Exhibition, View Arts, Old Forge, NY, 23 June – 30 July 2018. “Brad” awarded Second Place, and “Light Embrace” won the Rooney ETC Award.
“God Is My Judge” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, May 2018, Outstanding Pastel Award and FAV 15% (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“Clammer” – Art Muse Juried Online Painting Competition, April 2018, Emerging Artist Finalist
“Triad” – Ivory & Lead Juried Online Painting Competition, March/April 2018
“Light Embrace” – American Women Artists 2018 Spring Online Juried Show
“Portrait of a Generation” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, January 2018, FAV 15% (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“Light Embrace” – Colors of Humanity Juried Exhibit November 2017 “Animals” show. Second Place Award
“Light Embrace” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, October 2017, FAV 15% (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“Light Embrace” – Gateway International Painting Competition, Finalist, October 2017
The Guild of Boston Artists 2017 Regional Juried Exhibition, September 9 – 30, 2017, ‘Award of Merit’ for “Brad”
“Brad” – Gateway International Painting Competition, Finalist, September 2017
“Miss Peanut” – Colors of Humanity Juried Exhibit May 2017 “Yellow” show. Honored as a ‘Noteworthy’ work.
“Granite & Silk” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, May 2017, FAV 15% (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
“The Model” – Sedona Arts Center, April 2017 online show, Artist’s Choice Award
“Brad” – BoldBrush Online Painting Competition, February 2017, Outstanding Pastel Award and FAV 15% (jury’s favorite 15% of entries)
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Publications
Masterpieces, The Guide Artists Publishing, Hardcover, pp. 117-120, Spain, 2022
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine online, November 21, 2022
Lunar Codex: Polaris Mission
“In conjunction with Era Contemporary’s exhibition “Legends of the Moon” a digital version of the painting “XIII” will be included in the Lunar Codex: Polaris Mission. “The Polaris Collection” is associated with an Astrobotic Griffin/NASA VIPER mission, carrying a time capsule that will land in the vicinity of the Lunar South Pole. This will be the first significant placement of contemporary arts on the Moon in 50 years.”
Escape into Life online magazine, Artist Watch Feature, November 2021
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine November-December 2021, included in the Lunar Codex
International Realism, 14th International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center Annual Book, Hardcover, p.92, USA, 2020
2023 Fountain Street Fine Art Annex Fellowship, Boston, MA
Juror of Selection, 2019 Northeast National Pastel Exhibition, View Arts, Old Forge, NY.
American Women Artists Signature Member
American Artists Professional League Signature Member
Certified City of Boston Artist
Jodie Kain 