Today we’d like to introduce you to Winifred Godfrey.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a self-employed full-time artist in Chicago. Although I grew up on the South side of Chicago, I now live on the North side. After graduation from the University, I came here to look for a teaching job but instead found myself doing Art Fairs and Freelance art jobs. That evolved into a full-time career as an artist.
Along the way, I did some teaching for different Universities and organizations and shows at Galleries and Museums. It’s been a wonderful and interesting Career.
The body of work that I have covers both figurative and floral work as well as a few other things. My primary work is Oil Painting, although I’ve done watercolor and drawing as well as lithography along the way. At the beginning of my career, I did a figurative and portrait painting. Later, I switched to larger than life florals that are about light and translucency.
Later on, in my career, I returned to the figure doing a project about the Maya of Guatemala. The Mayan Procession project is a series of life sized paintings depicting the Highland Indigenous from Guatemala in their traditional dress. It is painted in the format of a Procession. Each canvas portrays people from different villages wearing the clothing that is particular to that village. there are many different types of weaving that are unique to each group. Along with 14 paintings of individuals and groups, there are 300 original textiles and photos of everyday life in the Highlands of Guatemala. The exhibit is highlighted by a carpet made of colored sawdust.
Has it been a smooth road?
Initially, when I graduated from the University of Wisconsin and returned to Chicago I thought it would be easy to get a teaching job. I had finished my education and was all ready to step into a career. I was wrong. It wasn’t eady at all. What was available were jobs I didn’t want or wasn’t trained to do. It was a rude awakening.
As a result, I did a few early art fairs to earn some money by selling my drawings and paintings from college. I really enjoyed doing the fairs and meeting people. It brought in a little bit of money and I liked the freedom of being outdoors and meeting interesting people. I guess that was the beginning of a full-time art career. Had I gotten the teaching jobs, I would not have been doing art full time for my livelihood.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your business – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
For all intents and purposes, my work is very realistic and traditional in many ways. I love to paint figures and started my career as a portrait painter. My portraits were not traditional but rather full figure life-size paintings with pattern and color dominant in the compositions. I used my friends and clients as the subjects. The figure paintings were somewhat voyeuristic in that I liked to paint people in their own environment using clothing and objects that were personal to them. Most times I painted my subjects in a contemplative or solitary mood. The figure was merely an element of the tight design of the pattern and color of the canvas.
Later on, in my career (after a few experimental subjects), I switched to flowers. I was working in a plant shop and growing orchids. After the figures, I wanted to try something more organic and less personal and restrictive. At first, it was just an experiment but I became fascinated with the translucency and transparency of the flower petals and the fluidity of the organic forms. The flowers were very large and close up so that the abstract quality and the light dominated the images
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My parents wanted me to learn to be a secretary or teacher or find a good husband to support me (You can see I am from an older generation). I think the best advice for a young woman starting a career is to follow your passion but also take time to learn how to be businesslike and market what you do. There are so many talented people out there but they are dependent on someone helping them. Many times someone needs to do another job to support themselves and they don’t really have a lot of time or energy left for their art or creative work.
It is very helpful to network and meets lots of people in your field so they can help give you ideas and can advise, support and promote your work. Enter every show you can and don’t be discouraged by rejection. It is part of the process and is not personal (sometimes depends on what the judge had for breakfast). Keep on trying and eventually, you will get where you want to be. It’s fun and you make lots of friends and learn new things.
Pricing:
- Oil Paintings $2500 +
- Original Lithographs $600 +
- Posters $15-30
Contact Info:
- Address: Winnie Godfrey
2647 N. Orchard St.
Chicago, Il 60614 - Website: www.godfreyart.com
- Phone: 773-929-6516
- Email: winniegodfrey@sbcglobal.net
Image Credit:
Winifred Godfrey
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