I Want One: Jody Katopothis

My Grandfather once said “a medium should be celebrated by the artist: woodcarvers should leave chisel-marks; painters should leave brush marks. I agree. And for that reason, I don’t especially like watercolor. How do you leave thick furrows in oil if you’re painting in washes?

At least I didn’t like watercolor, until I saw the work of Jody Katopothis. I saw her work several years ago on Oregon Art Beat and immediately began thinking “I have to have one”. I called her not long after. A very friendly woman, we chatted about a visit to her studio, next time I’d be in Portland. Though it hasn’t happened and my art-fund has been meager. (By meager, I mean absent).

I still believe in my Grandfather’s idea of celebrating a medium. And I still have an affinity for thick paint and camelhair brushes. Maybe I just don’t know how an artist ‘celebrates’ watercolor? I can’t honestly say I’m any closer to the medium in general. Perhaps Jody could explain that part of her work to me?

But what I do see is in her work is celebration of color. I see compositions so strong, I don’t care what was used to paint them. They lack for nothing. And that is why Jody Katopothis is on my top five “I want one” list.

Check out this very special Oregon Artist.

Jody Katopothis: http://www.jodykat.com