The following article was reproduced from the original from City-County Magazine, a monthly publication by City-County Publications, Burlington, North Carolina, March, 1999.
A smile will often appear when those who know Walt Hodges are asked about their colorful friend. His coworkers at the Positive Image Salon in Burlington speak of Walt with the greatest endearment. They seem to miss his presence every day (he now works two days a week), but his frequent visits and vivid artwork hanging about the salon are constant reminders of Walt and what he does.
"It's a dream come true," Walt replies when asked about his career move into the professional art world. He believes he has a natural gift, one that has seemed to come back to him throughout his life. Walt decided on his career change while vacationing in the remote Allegheny mountains a couple of years ago with his family.
The serenity of the area reminded him of an ancient Japanese saying, which said that the mountains are the point where the Heavens and the Earth meet. He was inspired by what he saw and the sense of peacefulness and confidence he felt as he sketched the sights surrounding him. After much soul-searching, he'd made his decision. Since going public, this Roanoke, Virginia native has sold 30 art pieces, including a portrait and two murals.
Walt's workplace is spacious and comfortable, containing artwork from all stages of his life. An amiable black Labrador retriever named Diamond sits at his feet while he works. He sips coffee and Divorjak plays in the background. Creativity seems to emanate from the walls of his home studio.
He says that an artist should possess both the technical skills of how to actually use the tools of the trade, as well as the ability to capture what inspires the artist, himself.
Walt is influenced by classical music, the weather, his mood, the climate, and even the room in which he's working. His pieces reflect recurrent themes of women, perhaps inspired by years in the salon industry. He enjoys going out into the community and seeing people, and it seems that everything strikes an impulse with this effervescent man. Walt is thankful for a childhood during which he was provided with the arts, public speaking and the theater. These things have influenced his style throughout the years.
Some people might say that leaving a "stable" job to pursue something as risky as a full-time art career is not very wise. Walt explains that there is definitely the element of the unknown. He says he's taking the first year as a learning experience. Walt says that although he's not exactly sure where he's going, he's ready for this change because of the experience he's gained from working in the salon industry for 17 years. He laughs as he thinks back to his maturity level at the time of his college graduation and affirms his dedication to making his career work.
"I'm more respectful of my time now," he says.
Along with being more conscientious of his work and the amount of time he devotes to his art, Walt is aware of what it takes to make a living from what he does. He explains that there are two types of artwork: "fine art" and "commercial art." The latter is more universal in appeal. It's traditional and typically brings in more money. His first commercial published piece is titled, "Child's Play." It's a drawing done in colored pencils that depicts lively-looking toys arranged on a floor.
Walt has donated pieces to the Duke Pediatric Eye Center, Heart Ball, and the Burlington Day School's Great Escapes. He believes he must spread generosity by giving back to a community which, he says, has the appeal of a small town without being small town minded.
His portfolio is intriguing with bold sketches of faces and a woman he calls "Sun" who reoccurs in many of his pieces. He has photographs of intricate murals painted in the homes of local residents. One is an elegant bird motif. The other is a branch from the "Tree of Life." No two flowers in the mural are alike, and the detail is astonishing. Currently, Walt has a three-month show at Leon's Hair Salon in Greensboro.
Walt Hodges's "eye for detail" has taken him far in his art career. With "more ideas than able to capture," this local artist is bound to do great things with his special gift.
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