For those who`ve ever thought it was too late to pursue a dream, meat H.C. Dodd. The Huston watercolorist didn`t start painting in earliest until she was 67. Fifteen years later, her dramatic abstract paintings have been shown in almost 400 national and international juried exhibitions, and she`s won more than 200 awards for her work.
H.C.Dodd. Encore. 22x30` (56x76cm)
One of the most difficult aspects of her work comes when she`s done with the painting: deciding which end is up. "I just put the painting on the floor and walk around it untill I decide," she laughs.
H.C.Dodd. Longitude. 30x22` (76x56cm)
From the American Artist magazine.
Thank you for making us discover this great lady of watercolor. It's nice to have dreams and make them live.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed myself when I read the article. I just wondered how could she wait for so long to realize her talent.
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ReplyDeleteHelen Carolyn Dodd, "Glen," of Houston, Tx died, Saturday July 5, 2014 attended by her family, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. She was born July 9, 1924. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Gerald D. Dodd, Jr, M.D., and six children: Patricia Cording of Bolivia, NC, Michael Dodd of Houston, Barbara Dodd of Austin, Gerald Dodd, III, M.D. of Denver, CO, Anne Dodd Britton of Houston, Thomas Dodd of Ft. Worth; thirteen grandchildren; one great grandchild: and four nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Helen Glenzing, her sister, Betty Harris, one son, William Dodd and one daughter, Susan Brown.
Helen Dodd graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in Psychology and worked for the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot as a psychometrician until she had married and begun her family. At the age of 67 she embarked on a third career as a Water Color Artist, studying at the Art League of Houston and the Museum of Fine Art Glassell School of Art.
H.C. Dodd is listed in Who's Who in America Art, 24th Ed.[2001-2002] and in the Biographical Encyclopedia of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers[2002]. Since 1992, her paintings have been shown in over 400 national and international juried exhibitions. They have received more than 200 awards, among them the Gold Medal [2003] and the Bronze Medal [2000] of the American Watercolor Society, the Gold Medal [2004] and the Silver Medal [2000] of the Audubon Artist, Inc. and the Best Of Show awards from the Philadelphia Water Color Society [1999], the Southern Watercolor Society [2001] and the Oklahoma Watercolor Association [2001]. Other major awards include the Frederic and Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Award from the National Academy of Design [1998] and the first place [2003] and second place [1999] in the Experimental Category of The Artist's Magazine Art Competition. Examples of her work can be found at HCDodd.com, Best of Watercolor 3, Best of Watercolor 2, Painting Composition, Fifty Years of Excellence TWS, Color Right From the Start, Artist Magazine, Watercolor Magic, International Artist, Southwest Art, The Taos Magazine and The 2002 Collector's Guide. She was a signature member of 32 watercolor societies.
Artist statement: "Painting is a personal emotional experience. The only individual I can bring to the creative process is me. Whether I like it or not, I can only do it my way. Because I am constitutionally unable to simply let things happen, my abstracts are totally planned. It frequently takes days of trial and error to construct a satisfying composition. I push bits of color, assorted textures, different shapes and values around and around until something deep inside of me says 'yes'. Then and only then do I begin to paint. When the blank white paper has been covered with pigment, it is time for a critical revue. Once again emotion or mood, or intuition dictates the changes necessary to bring the disparate pieces into a unified whole. If Lady Luck is kind and the painting is successful, it will arouse a similar response in the viewer." www.hcdodd.com
She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She demonstrated that it is never too late to pursue another career. She appreciated all that life has to offer, and passed her lifelong love for Arts and Crafts not only to her children, but also to her grandchildren. Services will be at St. Anne Church, 2120 Westheimer Road on Thursday, July 10th at 2 PM.
There will be a later private internment service at Glenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.