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 13^th 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.