About Jeannie
Jeannie Vodden lives in the foothills of the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. She lives on a beautiful oak-covered property in the Gold Country of California. Here she dedicates her time to expressing her love of beauty in the garden, in her home and in her watercolors and drawings
Jeannie works in watercolor, painting floral, still life and portraits, and in graphite, drawing whimsical little people and animals.
Artist Statement:
Forms and textures:
I love painting the complex textures, forms and patterns found in nature. The scales of a reptile, the random branches of a nest, the tousled hair of a young child, a dried leaf. It’s fun for me to compare and contrast man-made textures. A few I’ve attempted are: a crocheted scarf, the floral print in the folds of a dress, a glass vase, metal gears. When I add beautiful, natural light it changes the whole look and feel of each surface and pattern, overlaying complexity and changing form.
Techniques:
Watercolor is wonderful and challenging! I love using a very limited palette of staining transparent hues. My method is to use a glazing process, in which I apply layer upon layer, changing color and letting it mix on the paper.
Subject Matter:
I have been painting and drawing faces and portraits since I was very young. From the very first it was exciting, even surprising, to see a likeness appearing on the paper before me. Now, many paintings later, casual, sun dappled images of people, are a big part of my work.
Because of the color I use and my application, my work has a magical feel. Sometimes I enjoy adding a touch of fantasy, or combining things that you don’t normally see in the same painting. I love seeing something surprising on my paper!
Teaching and Demoing:
Through numerous watercolor demonstrations, classes and workshops, I have been able to share my work and experience with others: artist’s groups, schools, county and state fairs, community organizations, which is always a delight for me, and, I hope, for those I teach as well.
Education:
I have been very fortunate to have studied with Sacramento artist, Gary Pruner, whose marvelous teaching grounded me in my craft, and whose passion for art inspired me. It is largely due to Gary’s encouragement that I am a full time painter and teacher. I am thankful for his generosity and support.
My Goal:
My desire is to bring to my work, the imagination and curiosity often found in children, and to combine that sense of wonder with an experienced artist’s hand.
Jeannie Vodden – Bio
Jeannie Vodden’s interest in the variety of textures and patterns found in both natural and man-made objects is the starting point for most of her paintings. To natural light she adds a portrait or a floral still life, maybe even a dash of fantasy, and pulls it all together with her unique technique and color.
Her preference for the complex play of form and light is balanced by her use of a very simple palette. Starting with only three colors, and rarely more than five, she glazes transparent layers. Each layer modifies the last, changing the color and adding a multi-leveled glow. Though the process takes some patience, the visual effects are revealed in an unusual feeling of depth of color… Perfectly suited to transparent watercolor.
Jeannie is a popular instructor of watercolor. For over 25 years she has taught workshops throughout California and in Wyoming, Nevada and Washington State. She enjoys demonstrating her watercolor techniques to art and community organizations and finds the challenge of judging art competitions rewarding and inspiring.
Judging: Pleasanton Art League – 2023
Nevada Watercolor Society – 2023
Amador County High School Art – 2022
WASH Membership Shows – Sacramento
SWWS Vancouver, Washington
Sierra Watercolor Society
A few of her many awards and activities include:
- In 2024 Jeannie will travel across the country to Georgia to teach a 5-day watercolor workshop, demonstrate her techniques and judge an art show.
- Her painting Wondrous Visions was included in SPLASH 2021, the Best of Watercolor
- In 2020 Jeannie was awarded signature status at the California Watercolor Association.
- 2019 Celebrate Life benefiting Hospice of Amador and Calaveras, Karmere Winery, donation of original watercolor: “Sunny Window”.
- Her work “Sunshine” was included in California Watercolor Association’s 48th National Exhibition, 2018. and was awarded the M. Graham & Co Award.
- Salis International, Inc. Award in the 2016 California Watercolor Association’s 46th National Exhibition
- Acceptance into National Watercolor Society 95th Exhibition 2015
- Awards in the Stockton Art League’s competition at the Haggin Museum
- Acceptance into the prestigious 2000 and 2002 Crocker Kingsley competition at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, Ca.
- Awards at the “California Works” fine art competition at the California State Fair
- Honorable Mentions at the KVIE Annual Art Auction
- Many Best of Show and People’s Choice Awards
- The State of California has purchased two of her paintings for its archives.
- In 2015 Jeannie’s work was published in both Pratique des Art Magazine in France and Artist Palette Magazine in Australia.
For several years she demonstrated in the “California Works” Fine Art Show at the California State Fair, sharing her work and talking to visitors of the well-regarded fine art venue.
Annually she has opened her home and studio to the public for the Amador County Art Studio Tours.
Jeannie designs a theme fair window at the Amador County Fair in Plymouth, CA each year for the Amador Stars, Amador County’s local Cancer support organization.
For 2010 and 2011 and 2014 wine release she has designed unique and beautiful fine art wine labels for Young’s Vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley, California. Her artwork is also found on Bella Impavida Wines https://bellaimpavidawine.com/
Jeannie’s Website is www.JeannieVodden.com
You can find her on Facebook at Jeannie Vodden’s Art Studio, Jeannie Vodden on Instagram and watercolor instruction on YouTube.