Artist Statement:

My artwork takes a look at how color and imagery affects our mood.   In my work, I use bright bold bursts of colors.  It’s always fun to mix and use a new color. Line is also used to define shapes and images. Nature, hearts, cityscapes, people and abstract shapes are the subjects of most of my work… often these themes are combined in one painting.  While I use a variety of materials, vibrant colors are the common thread that runs through them all. 

Creating is as essential for me as air and water.  As long as I can remember I have been inspired to create, dream and dig deeper for a greater sense of harmony within myself.  It is in that search for connection and harmony that I find life and all of its wonders.

Biography:

Gayla Hodson was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1958, the youngest child to parents who where both teachers.  Following in their footsteps she went on to receive a BA in art education from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois in 1982. Gayla Hodson is a full-time painter who exhibits her work throughout the country. She has been featured in American Art Collectors Magazine, Indianapolis Monthly and Indianapolis Woman; and highlighted in newspaper articles such as: NUVO, the Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Business Journal. She has appeared on Indy Style, Wish TV, and WTHR in Indianapolis. She is one of the artists profiled in “100 Artists of the Midwest” by E. Ashley Rooney.  In 2014 she will be one of the artists profiled in E. Ashley Rooney’s book “Artists Homes and Studios”.  Her work is in both private and corporate collections such as the Butler University (Clowes Hall), Chase Tower, Summit Reality Group, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, Inc., Indianapolis Economic Development, Swiss Reality Group and Marion Inc. ?She’s taught in both private and public schools and community arts organizations in Indianapolis:  Indianapolis Arts Center and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Gayla received the 2009 Creative Renewal Fellowship Grant from the Indianapolis Arts Council through the Lilly Endowment. It was through this experience that would have a profound effect on her work as an artist. After attending an Intuitive Painting workshop in 2010 in Taos, NM Gayla found her passion and renewed purpose in the arts.

Gayla Hodson is a full-time artist living and working in Pendleton, Indiana.  At a young age, she knew she wanted to be an artist. Her parents were both teachers, following in their footsteps she got her degree in Art Education.  She would begin teaching art with a dream of one day being a full-time artist.  When her Mother died from breast cancer in 2001, she began the journey towards her life-long dream…realizing “life is short”.