Dodie Setoda

My work is representational. It's about light, design, shapes, textures and color. For content, I often find inspiration in the simple things around me. When something catches my eye, I study the shadows, colors, forms, lighting and my own emotional reaction. I often use dramatic lighting because it produces interesting shapes and patterns. It's this total visual experience that I want to share through my art.

Watercolor is liquid magic. Colored pencils produce rich colors and textures. I choose colors carefully to develop the subtle variations that make them play off one another. Sometimes I combine watercolor with colored pencil for a mixed media effect. I want people to look at my work closely, and so fine detail is important to me, as is care in execution.

Before starting a piece, I make rough sketches and a color study to resolve compositional issues such as balance, movement and center-of-interest. These studies are used as guides. The work in progress may change as a piece evolves.

Paper selection is dictated by the subject matter. I enjoy the challenge of creating a variety of textures on a two dimensional flat surface.

On a personal level, my art captures a moment of awareness, a stillness when time stops briefly and becomes art.

My background is in commercial arts and illustration. I was a freelance graphic designer for 12 years creating visual tools for corporate advertising, sales promotion and exhibit design for national trade shows and museums. My illustrations appear in books and many other publications. Commercial assignments gave me practical and technical training, but with the advent of computers, I missed using hand tools to create my work. I now focus on producing individual fine art pieces. I believe this has always been my true path and a natural evolution of my earlier work.

My art celebrates life illuminated by light. I work in a representational style to express a mood or convey a visual experience. There is endless inspiration all around me. I have worked in several mediums but have found watercolor and colored pencil to be most satisfying. Much to my surprise, I have enjoyed teaching art as well.

Over the years, I have continued my art education with classes at the Portland Art Museum School and Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. I have also studied with the Creative Arts Community (Menucha) and taken a variety of seminars and workshops featuring many fine art instructors. I am a member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, Beaverton Arts commission, Portland Art Museum and The Studio Group. I have volunteered and served on the board of the local chapter of the Colored Pencil Society of America for many years. My artwork has been juried into local and international shows and is published in "The Best of Colored Pencil", volume five. My paintings have received various awards along the way. I am gratified when people tell me how much they enjoy my work and how good it makes them feel.