CDG Artist of the month Dannielle Hodson
Posted on July 3, 2013
Curious Duke Gallery would like to present to you July's artist of the month Dannielle Hodson as we talk about Picasso and the Beat generation.
Questions:
Name: Dannielle Hodson
Discipline : Mixed media
Age: 32
Where do you live: Old Street
Where did you study: Central St Martins Women's Fashion.
Life ambition: To be a great painter whose paintings are alive.
Discipline : Mixed media
Age: 32
Where do you live: Old Street
Where did you study: Central St Martins Women's Fashion.
Life ambition: To be a great painter whose paintings are alive.
1. Who, or what is your greatest influence on your life and art?
My Gran, whom I called Nin was a great inspiration. She taught me how to doodle and without realising it taught me to like the unusual and see what perhaps wasn't always so obvious. She taught me to read and gave me hundreds of books that I relished and as I grew older I started to read a lot of American writers, beat generation books about life and how ugly it was, but the ugliness is beautiful. Henry Miller, Kerouac, Hunter S Thompson, Charles Bukowski, Burrows and George Orwell all inspired me, I felt they really lived and took the highs with the lows and really saw things like they were. I like that. I want to be real in my work and see the unusual and weird, and for me thats the most beautiful.
My Gran, whom I called Nin was a great inspiration. She taught me how to doodle and without realising it taught me to like the unusual and see what perhaps wasn't always so obvious. She taught me to read and gave me hundreds of books that I relished and as I grew older I started to read a lot of American writers, beat generation books about life and how ugly it was, but the ugliness is beautiful. Henry Miller, Kerouac, Hunter S Thompson, Charles Bukowski, Burrows and George Orwell all inspired me, I felt they really lived and took the highs with the lows and really saw things like they were. I like that. I want to be real in my work and see the unusual and weird, and for me thats the most beautiful.
2. Who is your favourite artist at the moment?
I love Diane Arbus, she also understood the weird and the wonderful and really immersed herself in it that. I love Picasso because he was brave, but I always love him.
I love Diane Arbus, she also understood the weird and the wonderful and really immersed herself in it that. I love Picasso because he was brave, but I always love him.
3. Describe a typical day in the studio in no more than 5 words.
A Journey of the mind.
A Journey of the mind.
4. Spontaneity or planning?
Both, I think about what I do for hours/days/weeks holding an image in my head and when I am ready I just do it.
5. What do you do in the event of a creative block?
Nothing, I know when my hands are good for nothing so I do something else. Some days, like today I am not connecting my vision and the canvas, but its necessary to get angry and frustrated as if it was good all the time I wouldn't be learning and thinking about solutions.
6. Do you have a favourite piece of your own work?
I always love my newest piece the best as I learn so much with every painting each one feels more accomplished.
Both, I think about what I do for hours/days/weeks holding an image in my head and when I am ready I just do it.
5. What do you do in the event of a creative block?
Nothing, I know when my hands are good for nothing so I do something else. Some days, like today I am not connecting my vision and the canvas, but its necessary to get angry and frustrated as if it was good all the time I wouldn't be learning and thinking about solutions.
6. Do you have a favourite piece of your own work?
I always love my newest piece the best as I learn so much with every painting each one feels more accomplished.
7. What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
Painting. I'm self taught even though I've had a couple of lessons, I haven't got the basics drilled into me so I struggle with technique. I'm trying to learn I just don't want to forget how to be original.
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Extremely successful.
Painting. I'm self taught even though I've had a couple of lessons, I haven't got the basics drilled into me so I struggle with technique. I'm trying to learn I just don't want to forget how to be original.
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Extremely successful.
9. Please recommend one piece of essential reading.
If by Rudyard Kipling. It's a beautiful poem.
10. If you could time travel to one era or event, when would you choose?
Now is the only time you can benefit from the past.
If by Rudyard Kipling. It's a beautiful poem.
10. If you could time travel to one era or event, when would you choose?
Now is the only time you can benefit from the past.
11. Tea or Coffee?
Tea all day long.
12. Who would be your dream dinner guest?
Grayson Perry.
13. What super power would you have for a day?
Flying. I fly in my dreams a lot and it feels wonderful.
Tea all day long.
12. Who would be your dream dinner guest?
Grayson Perry.
13. What super power would you have for a day?
Flying. I fly in my dreams a lot and it feels wonderful.
14. What are you listening to at the moment?
TED talks, I like benefiting from the wisdom of really smart people who think a lot.
TED talks, I like benefiting from the wisdom of really smart people who think a lot.
Dannielle Hodson will be giving a talk titled Nothing is Sacred on Thursday 18th July 6:30 – 8:30, details and FREE tickets here
as one of a series of events during our summer show The Art of Curiosity.