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Hodges Soileau  b.1943

       Hodges Soileau is a native of southwest Louisiana.  The “Cajun accent is all but gone from living in different parts of the country for so many years, but his cultural ties are still strong.  Hodges left Louisiana after graduation from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in pursuit of his art. That journey took him first to Texas and then to Connecticut.

       He had a successful illustration career which lasted twenty five years. His art graced the covers of more than three hundred book covers. He worked for most of the major publishing houses in New York. Hodges was a twenty three year member of the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York. During this time, he received many citations of merit for work exhibited in annual shows. He was selected to do the painting for the twenty ninth call for entries and chaired the thirty fifth annual exhibition.

       After twenty five years of executing ideas and concepts of others, he now paints subjects that are of interest to him. Hodges has had five one man shows, and has participated in numerous group shows.  First place in the T.S.A.A. exhibition in Tarpon Springs 1997, the Artist Magazine 2001 Art Competition finalist, the Artists Magazine 2002 Art Competition finalist. 2004 Face and Figure exhibition, best in show, Venice Art Center, Venice, Florida. 2004 Spring Exhibition, best in show, Venice Art Center.  Most recently received an award of excellence in the 2004 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition.

      His work hangs in private collections as well as the United States Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard   permanent collections. The permanent collection of Golf Digest Magazine includes several of his paintings.

       Hodges is presently represented by: Cavalier Galleries in Greenwich Ct. and Nantucket Ma., Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg Texas, Austin Galleries in Austin Texas, Fountainside Gallery in Wilmington, NC. and Marquette Gallery in Cincinnati Ohio. He is a member of the Oil Painters Of America.

       Hodges does most of his work in a studio, but he likes  to get outdoors as often as possible with a few friends to paint field sketches. He finds Plein Air painting personally beneficial to his growth as an artist. At the very least, it is loads of fun and very challenging whether it be Florida or Maine, where he spends a month each summer.

       Hodges and his wife, Marilyn, presently reside in Venice, Florida.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, University of Southwestern Louisiana

Awards, Group Shows, Invitational and Juried Exhibitions:

ARTIST STATEMENT

I approach most paintings generally in a direct or “alla prima” method, or a form of it.  It depends entirely on the painting.  There are various ways to start and finish a painting.  I try to remain open to the possibilities.  Paint quality, texture, edges and value are more important to me than a lot of fussy detail.  It is easier and less risky, in my opinion, to sneak up on a painting.  A spontaneous direct approach, if successful, is much more exciting and satisfying to me, and possibly to an audience.  Of course, composition remains the backbone of any good painting.

There are common problems that all artists face, whether they are compositional, color, value, or edges.  Since painting is an endless learning process, artists to some degree have to learn to teach themselves.  It is a good idea to go to the old masters of one’s choice for help with some of these universal concepts.  My inspirations come from the usual suspects: Sargent, Zorn, Sorolla, and Fechin, to name a few.

Most fine artists, who come from an Illustration background, come equipped with picture making, and problem solving skills.  The only problem with being an Illustrator is that you are always solving someone else’s problem, and painting someone else’s picture, rather than your own.  Now, my goal is to create paintings that are of interest to me personally, and to execute them with as much skill and honesty as I possibly can.