Artist Bio
Jodi Hanson-Mills
When trying to describe the art I create or why I create it, I kind of laugh when I think of all the complicated reasoning that we all come up with why we do what we do. My mother always told me to keep things simple, be true to your heart, and love what you do. I quite simply love to create art. I love painting with the brush, the smell of the oil and even the turpentine. I enjoy taking an image in my mind and putting it on canvas, wood, statue or applying my illustration skills to a book.
I have a great love for animals, especially dogs and horses, and I've been told my dog paintings look like photographs taken in surreal backgrounds. I am a realist painter, but I enjoy painting realistic images in surreal settings. As far as the technical parts of my resume, I have participated in exhibits, won awards, and especially have enjoyed being a part of the Home for Life events the past two years.
Statement from the Artist
When I was asked by Home for Life to be a part of this year's holiday event, I was very excited to do so again. For the Home for Life's 2008 Gala, I participated by creating a doghouse, which was wonderful fun. Being that my father was a professional woodworker, I was thrilled to utilize his expertise in helping with the wood aspects on the doghouse, and it was something we shared together. Sadly, my father passed away this past spring of cancer, and so this year I make my project alone, but I was inspired to create a painted dog statue that would both represent Home for Life's love for the dog, and my father's love of the outdoors. The creation for my "Lab Statue" is that of an outdoor mural, a place where man and his best friend can find a little piece of heavenly serenity in this all too busy world we live in.