Blogs from Around the World - Joji Roper Todd

Welcome to March's Blogs from around the World where this month I feature the very talented Joji Roper Todd. Joji produces vibrant folk art and her paintings and sculptures are amazing.

Where is home for you?

I live in south Florida now but was born in North Carolina.

How did you get started as an artist?

I have created art for as long as I can remember. As a child I loved to draw, color, paint, sew, crochet anything that was creative. My Carolina grandmother was very creative and made daily life so interesting. There was nothing she could not do.

Are you currently represented by a gallery?

I am not represented by any gallery, I self promote my work.

What is your preferred Medium?

My favorite medium is really 2 fold. I love acrylic paints and paperclay. I like to work in both at the same time as one inspires the other.

What artists inspire you?

I am most inspired by obscure folk artist not in the main stream. Those who produce art by any means possible. Without conventional tools and supplies and non conventional subjects.

Describe your typical day?

My typical day consist of some form of work in my studio which was once my living room but has been consumed by my work. Even if I don't actually do work I am researching some form or listening to inspirational music.

I love your series on the Blue People. Can you tell us more about the project?

I have always been enthralled with Appalachia. The people the music and such. I would sit and listen for hours while my granddaddy played the banjo. While researching more about Appalachia I discovered the "Blue People Of Troublesome Creek" They captured my heart and I needed to bring them to life. I will be doing that for some time as I have endless ideas for paintings and dolls I want to create based on them.

Thelma so far is my favourite painting of yours. How did she come about?

Thelma is based on women who hung around the beauty shop where I worked as a newlywed. She is named after my grandmother. They are polar opposites and I found that comical. My grandmother was a staunch baptist and tea-totaler.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration is mountain people and their music. I adore the Appalachian sound and its people and am inspired by their stories.

Are there certain colours in your palette that you would not be without?

The one color I could never do without is RED......It is my bloodline in my work.

What’s next for Joji Roper Todd?

I never know what is next. Working on the mountain folk and blue people give me plenty of satisfaction for now. I do not think their stories will ever run dry, and hopefully neither will my art.

Thank you Joji for being a part of my Blogs from around the World. Please visit Joji here and you can find her etsy store here.

Have a wonderful evening!

Sunday Sketches

This weeks Sunday Sketch is another whimsical piece......maybe the older more serene sister of last weeks.

I used too much water as the paper in my sketchbook crinkled up a bit, so I am thinking of applying gesso to the page first and then using acrylics to paint my next piece, whatever that might be.
Please check out the other sketches done, everyone is just so talented.

Have a great Sunday xx

12/52 - Whimsical Art

Once again I am a day late posting my photo for this week but I have a good excuse as I was on a date with my lovely Jim. It's a rare treat these days to get out on a Friday and Saturday night due to the kids, so we grasped a free night and headed off to the cinema to see Limitless which was very good.

Anyway, here's my photo for this week which is the finished sketch of this picture. Not quite sure about it, but I do like the colours.
I'm also a day late for Paint Party Friday hosted by Kirstin and Eva, so I am hoping I can add a late entry which is the picture below.
Please head over the their blog to see the others.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday!

Helen xx

Exciting times

Right now it's pretty much all systems go for me! Well for us.....and by us I mean me and Jim. You see I need to follow my dreams just like the little birdy says and for that to happen it will take a lot of hard work and re-organisation in my life.....OUR life. And I am so very excited.

But all this change and hard graft will no doubt affect the time I can be creative and the time I can blog. I'm not superwoman so I completely expect something to give and I know that it will be the art. But.......it will be so worth it as I will eventually be able to be more creative than ever!

So if my posts are sporadic and I can't join in as many activities as I used to, please bear with me as it will soon pass.

Yay for exciting times ahead.

Hope you are all having a good week and looking forward to the weekend!

xx

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WLTM likeminded artist for occasional meet up or skype calls.
Anywhere in the world, can travel due to wonderful internet.
Only genuine people need apply
Want to find out more? Drop me a line !

:o) x

Sunday Sketches

I haven't had that much time to be creative this week......actually lets rephrase that, I've been feeling so tired and a bit sick, that I haven't wanted to be creative, but instead I've taken myself to bed quite early most nights. Sleep has been what I have needed this week.

However, I made this little whimsical sketch in the hope to try out some new ideas and see what happens. It's halfway through as a sketch and I will put some colour on it, have a play about and may even use it as a basis for a painting at a later date.

Just putting pencil to paper, letting the pencil find it's own way and enjoying the process gratifies my soul.

Please join me in checking out the other Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia as it's a great community of talented artists.

Have a sunshine Sunday xx

11/52 - Chocolate Love

I've been so tired this week (in bed by 9.30pm or before) most nights that I am even a day late posting my 52 weeks in pictures.
Although this isn't a photo about my creativity, this was the only one I took in the week, thus it will be my picture (ooh I haven't used the word thus in years!). The chocolate was left on my desk for me as a surprise gift from my lovely friend Lizzie. Wonderful.

I hope next week will be a less tiring one and one where I am a little bit creative.

Have a great evening and a fabulous weekend! xx

Ps...really sorry for the shortness (if that is a word) of this post but dinner is almost ready and I'm quite hungry x

Shoes

I wrote a blog about this post but decided not to post it. Instead I wanted to share my favourite shoes and I can't wait for summer to arrive so I can wear them again.

Have a good evening.

Sunday Sketches

My entry for this weeks Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia, is from the Stretching to Sketch challenge by Kelly Berkey. I had lots of fun doing this and I hadn't used pastels in ages, so it was lovely to do. Kelly will be posting up all the entries soon so please keep on checking her blog to find out when.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. I'm off to a BBQ later, which considering it's March and raining in London, it should interesting!

Happy Sunday! xx

10/52 - Tulip

The opening up of a tulip can be so beautiful, so I used my Hipstamatic app on my iPhone to capture this.
Happy Friday everyone and I hope you all have a great weekend!

Painting with Sting

Tonight I am painting at long last and listening to Sting. I haven't used pastels in ages and I am having so much fun. I don't mind the messy hands at all - I know lots of people don't like it, but as I am a messy artist anyway, I quite enjoy it.

I have music on, have a lemonade at my side and am painting a picture for the first time in a long time. Happy times.

Off now to carry on so have a great evening! xx

Words....

- overwhelmed

- despondent

- excited

- worried

- impatient

- concerned

- tired

- happy

- stressed

- guilty

- loved

All the things I am feeling right now, so I thought I would post a pretty flower.

Enjoy your Monday! x

Sunday Sketches

A late Sunday Sketch entry today, but it's here at last.

I shall head over to Sophia's blog to check out the others.

Take care.

9/52 - Getting creative

A quiet week creativity wise, a busy week in other stuff. My sketchbook has been my only outlet.

Have a great weekend!

Helen xx

Stormtroopers in Stilettos

Freddie's Hendrix

Yesterday, lovely Jim and I (in celebration of his birthday) traveled up town into Brick Lane, the East End of London to see a fantastic exhibition called Stormtroopers in Stilettos. This is a retrospective exhibition celebrating the formation of Queen's first five albums in time for their 40th anniversary.

It was a free exhibition and is well worth a look. On the opening day last weekend they were queuing round the block to see it, and The Truman Brewery where it is being held were overwhelmed by the response.

Jim and I ended up chatting to the project manager there and apparently Freddie's mum stayed for the whole five hours of the opening night and thought Freddie would have loved the exhibition. Imagine that!

It's on in London until the 12th March then I believe it is headed for Germany, Japan and Belgium to name a few places so if you are able to visit, I'd highly recommend it. Above is one of three photo's I took before my iPhone battery decided to die on me (they were more than happy for you to take pictures!)

Off now to listen to some Queen and to be creative.

Have a good evening! xx