Jodi Bonassi Canoga Park,CA Age 70
What keeps you excited in the studio? Creating a piece of art allows me to turn myself inside out. In the quiet of my studio I can explore what it means to be a human, that tangled mess that can be unraveled through gradations of color and endless patterns. Each series of work leads me to a deeper understanding of myself and others. I love drawing, mixing gradations of colors and developing repeating patterns that capture my attention for hours everyday.
Looking back at your trajectory as an artist, how would you say your work has developed? The trajectory of my work has always been much like a roller coaster. Each series has lead to opportunities to exhibit, some recognition through articles and the fellowship of other artists. I will explore a theme for years and then that work will lead to another series. Being an artist is emotional mental and physical. The physical part is making stuff. In order to make stuff I acknowledge that I am always balancing and incorporating my life experiences into it. I am learning everyday to be a better artist. Life is always happening so I gather my demons and angels together and ask them to play nice.
What role do you think the artist has in today’s society? Artists are record keepers of the soul and the heart. We, as artists can record human experiences as it relates to the world, to our circumstances or to nature. Art allows us to explore and connect with each other in an immediate way.
What’s the most important advice you could give to an aspiring artist? Create a space where you can make art everyday. Don’t go with trends or what others tell you to paint. Carve out time everyday to develop your craft and experiment with different mediums to see what speaks to you. Don’t compare yourself to what others are doing.
Does age matter in art? Why or why not? Age doesn’t matter. If I felt that way I would have stopped years ago. Life happens, We age, We have surgeries. Frieda Kahlo drew and painted in bed. Age matters only if you compare yourself to others. Many artists have used their age in their works as subject matter.
What can we look forward to from you next? I have extended my bird series to include other animals! I am not a world traveler but love working from photo references from friends who travel to places where animals run free. I think being an artist is to be honest with yourself. I am not comfortable driving and airports are scary to me so I accept this about myself. I hike locally but photo references allow me to travel. I draw and paint animals and then create patterns and images for the backgrounds.
Is there anything else you would like to share about being an artist later in life? Continuing to create art even with aging and life’s daily challenges gives me purpose. I am not great at balancing art with marketing and that is even harder as you age. I do know that gettin my art time in allows me to be joyful and loving. I always tell myself that every day is a new opportunity to hone my craft. I will spend my life learning to be a better artist.
https/www.jodibonassiart.com @jodi_bonassi
Spoonbill In A Dream, mixed media on canvas, 36″ x 24″, 2023