Rising Stars: Meet Jim Wodark

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Wodark.

Hi Jim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my art career as a cartoonist when I was 25.

I was a self-employed cartoonist and did cartoon maps of college campuses for about 15 years. I also did a lot of freelance cartoon work. When I married I quit cartooning and started painting landscapes in oil. I have been painting for the last 24 years and have won many awards at the local and national levels. Currently, I am represented in 7 galleries across the west.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
What would life be without some struggles?

I have had a lot of challenges and successes. When you are self-employed, you show up for work and put in a lot of effort, but that doesn’t mean it always produces income. That has been a great learning experience for me. How to generate what you want to have to happen out of nothing. Always amazes me and I feel so grateful for the results.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a landscape painter, working in oil. I have been painting landscapes that inspire me and have been inspired by the southwest landscape more and more. I started out painting in the Plein Air tradition (painting on location). I loved being outside and seeing beautiful areas to paint. I painted in many Plein Air competitions and won many awards.

The most prestigious one of them all was winning First Place in the Plein Air Magazine’s yearlong painting competition! There were about 6,000 entries in that show What sets my art apart from others is the sense of quietness and calm in my paintings. My colors are harmonious and my sense of design is good. I have been adding more figures and riders to my work, which also adds narrative and scale to my pieces. The paintings have a sort of timelessness to them.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I listen to the CALM app, a great meditation app as well as some inspirational programs. I look at all sorts of art magazines and books. “The Secret” is a book that I use every day in my creation of my life.

Pricing:

• Original Oil Paintings $800-$15,000

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jimwodark.com
• Instagram: @jimwodark
• Facebook: Jim Wodark

Suggest a Story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.