Friday, February 20, 2009

It's Jean Hood!

This week's Meet the Boomers article is on someone whose name we've all seen on the forums and all over the internet.  Now's the chance to learn even more about Jean Levert Hood and her beautiful work!

Q. What is/are the name of your shop?  On Etsy, I am JeanHood.

Q. What kind of items do you sell?  I sell small watercolors mostly, but I generally have several of my oil paintings listed too.

Q. How long have you been engaged in your art?  I started painting in 1997, so I’m into my 13th year!

Q. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson?  I consider myself a professional painter.

Q. What inspires you?  Nature, colors, shapes, light, shadow. If I had to pick one, it would be “Nature,” which I guess would encompass them all!

Q. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio.  I try to have my studio time defined before I get in there. When I leave the studio the prior day, I like to have my paints ready, brushes ready, canvas and reference materials picked out for my next session. That way when I walk in, I’m ready to get to work. When I walk in the door, the first thing I do is put on the music!

Q. What keeps you company while you’re working on a project?  Music. Loud music and occasionally my cats Stella and Clothilde. Stella really enjoys painting with me.

Q. What is your favorite task related to your art/craft?  I love squeezing out fresh paint onto my palette! It’s so beautiful I can’t wait to dive in!

Q. What is your least favorite task related to your art/craft?  Hmmm. Keeping the studio organized, I guess. I need a certain level of organization and I can get past that rea-l-l-l-ly quick!

Q. What are some of the venues you use to promote your shop/ware?  Do you blog?  To which teams do you belong?  Which other sites do you use?  I do blog, and I have my own website. I have several other internet sites as well:

  • Design Style Guide  has a portfolio of my work.
  • My blog is where I share new paintings and my beautiful area of Texas.
  • My website features mainly my oil paintings
  • At Trunkt  I have a large portfolio of both sold and available items.
  • I belong to VAST – Visual Artists Street Team, a fantastic team, and to Design Style Guide as well.
  • When I blog for Design Style Guide and my own blog, I enjoy featuring my team members from BBEST. When I see BBESTers in Trunkt, I include them in my showcases (so let me know if you are there!).

Q. Related to your craft, tell us about a funny, strange or unusual situation you found yourself.  I guess the most adventuresome painting I have done is on trips to Taos, New Mexico. I went there with a friend for several years and we’d paint on locations all over the area.
     We were trying to set up to get a great view of the Rio Grande Gorge, and I had my tripod legs in positions I never knew they could be in. Rocks kept everything steady, and the challenge was to keep one of my feet braced against a tree stump so I didn’t go falling down with all of the painting equipment! We really were on quite a slant! It was a wonderful day. My friend’s entire set up overturned with a wind gust. There were little tiny bugs that were entirely annoying and bit in spite of repellant, it was dusty and hot. I love painting out!

Q. Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t necessarily know about you by talking to you in the forums.  I’m from South Louisiana and can cook a mean gumbo.

Q. What’s your favorite book and why, favorite movie and why, favorite kind of music?  I’ve been a reader all my life, and simply cannot pick a favorite!! I don’t see too many movies.  Music — I’m all over the place there. I have five CD slots in my player in the studio, and it isn’t unusual for me to have classical, rock, late '60s, opera, etc., all at the same time.  The only requirement is that the volume is up.

Q. Would you care to share any words of wisdom with other aspiring artists or crafters?  Find your passion and keep at it!

Now that you know her a little better, please leave a comment for Jean.

24 comments:

Jordanka Yaretz said...

A great interview, i ahave always been a big fan of Jean's art.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the blog about Jean. She is a great person.

Barbara Haviland-Texas Contemporary Artist said...

Love this interview. Wonderful questions on the interviewer...

Jean Levert Hood said...

Janine, thank you so much for this lovely feature! And thank you Jorkanka, Joan, and Barb for the nice comments!

I love my BBEST friends. This is such a great group!

Unknown said...

Great interview with a very talented artist. Love the plein air painting story. So glad Jean didn't fall.

Zuda Gay Pease said...

Wonderful interview!!! I LOVE Jean's work!! I can't imagine trying to keep from sliding down a mountain and painting at the same time.

Unknown said...

Love the interview and have been a fan of Jean's watercolor work for awhile now. My favorites are the heron posted in the interview and her newest sun flower painting. :)

Sharon

~*~Pearl~*~ said...

Oh I love Jean!

jstinson said...

Jean, congratulations on a great interview! I love your wonderful art and enjoy your blog as well. Keep up the beautiful work!

Judy Nolan said...

Your passion for painting comes through loud and clear, Jean! It was wonderful to read more about you.

Kate Ladd Art said...

Super interview with a very talented artist. I love all her work ! Now I am wishing for a big bowl of gumbo!

Diana said...

Jean, congratulations on a great interview. I have been a fan of your for a little while now and it was so interesting reading more about you. Your WWAO Sister, Diana

dianeclancy said...

This is a wonderful interview Janine and Jean!!

I know Jean pretty well ... we moderate VAST together - but still I learned a few new things .. but mostly I love Jean and LOVE her art!!

It is great to see so many pieces in this OUTSTANDING interview!!

Thank you both!!
~ Diane Clancy
www.DianeClancy.com/blog
www.DianeClancy.etsy.com

Amanda Makepeace said...

Wonderful interview. It was a joy to read more about Jean and her Art.

Margaret Garrood said...

A lovely interview- thank you for showing us Jean's beautiful work.

Carla J Schuchman said...

Wonderful interview, enjoyed learning more about Jean. Love her work. It's is alway fresh and beautiful!

The Filigree Garden said...

Lovely spotlight on a wonderful artist!

Jean Levert Hood said...

I am so honor that you have all took the time to comment, Thank you, I treasure all of my BBEST, VAST, and WWAO friends!!

Anonymous said...

I have admired Jean's art since I joined BBEST about a year ago. Her gorgeous colors are very eye-catching.

Schar Freeman said...

I so love my small original of Jeans. This is a super interview! I would love to taste your Gumbo Jean!
Paint ON!!
♥schar

joon said...

Wonderful interview and now, thanks to your descriptive text, Jean, I have such an inspiration to get my paints and canvas out! Thanks, J and Jean for another great bio. BBEST is the best.

SendingLoveGallery said...

just LOVE your work...and thinking about gumbo, all at the same time :)

Jean Levert Hood said...

Yankee, Schar, Joon, and Love, I thought the comments were done, and then you all posted!! I am so very humbled by all of the wonderful comments. Thank you all.
Jean

Pam said...

Jean Hood's paintings are remarkable. I love her colors, her nature subjects, and everything about her work. She is a fabulous painter. Wonderful interview, wonderful person!