Meet Jody Valmassy, Artist in Valencia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jody Valmassy.

Jody, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised in the mountains of central California, I find myself inspired by nature’s colors and beauty. I am very fortunate to have been given a chance to experience and explore creativity early in my life. My teachers in High School were so encouraging and I was given great opportunities to excel in many mediums and art forms.

Throughout the past 40 years, I have completed numerous classes in drawing, acrylic and watercolor painting, illustration and graphic design. I have owned three businesses starting with sign painting, followed by creating decorative sandblasted glass and transitioning, for the last 20 years, to working as a fine art muralist. Dealing in residential and commercial applications has been a large part of my artistic education both in honing my realistic painting style and working closely with my clients on a professional level. My art has been featured in numerous venues throughout central and southern California.

For the last three years, I have been drawn in a new direction with my art creating interactive contemporary paintings on canvas. They are very textural with rich colors and designs. Painting mostly with my hands, I have the opportunity to have a tangible experience with the paint creating movement and vibrancy. My work has been well received in local shows and galleries in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu and
Laguna Beach.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This has been an interesting road for me. My previous business was based upon commissioned work. Now, I am in sales. It is definitely a challenge to find the best avenue for marketing and getting my work seen. But things are moving forward as I am in galleries and getting visitors to my website consistently.

The social media posts are probably my biggest obstacle that I am working to overcome. I am a fairly private person and as much as I love showing my paintings, I have a difficult time writing posts about me, sharing my emotions and feelings. Pushing “send” makes me really nervous! Once things are out there, there is no going back…

I love being professional and I am so happy with my website and Facebook pages. I have recently started a blog which I have to push myself to dig deep, walking a fine line between pertinent information about my art and showing my vulnerability and feelings. But it is fun and pushing me outside the box.

I think the last challenge is finding consistent time to paint. I am working to be more structured and disciplined with my time. Setting obtainable goals and making studio time a priority is high on my list.

All in all, I am so very fortunate to be in a position and have the support and time to fulfill my desires as an artist.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jody Valmassy Artist – what should we know?
I am an artist creating dynamic fine art paintings on canvas. Working in the vibrancy of acrylic paint, I explore with a myriad of color, textures and subject matter. I call it a contemporary, introspective style of painting. I dig deep into the layers of colors and swirling patterns to find things that excite me, a person’s head thrown back laughing, a friendly hamster on a shoulder, the powerful crash of a wave, it can be anything really. I like to make sense of what I paint, something to relate with, possibly evoke memories and emotion.

I am finding that my paintings are interactive. The viewers engage in finding treasures in the layers as their eyes journey across the canvas. I don’t hide things as much as leave them understated, letting the viewer explore and be involved in the discovery.

I have been so excited and energized by what I have been painting. For years, my style was photo-realistic, mostly landscapes and very subdued, natural color. I was never drawn to contemporary art so this is quite a surprise to me. I wanted a change in direction for a year or so, not sure what I was looking for. I bought new paint, brighter colors and large canvases and virtually exploded in this new venue.

I have a small studio on my mountain property where I can connect with nature and draw inspiration. I love the direction I am heading and the anticipation of finding what the next painting will reveal.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I definitely have a wonderful support system with my family, my good friends and mostly my husband, Kent. His positive encouragement and supportive partnership have enabled me to continue forward with my passion.

I was fortunate to have a great teacher in High School, Carol Broberg, who introduced me to so many art mediums with enthusiasm and encouraging words. It was that experience that set me on this path.

My friend, Donna, is invaluable to me. I call her my “Social Media Director”. She helps me with the business side of the art world, creating my website and keeping current postings on Facebook and blogging. She is always a joy to be around making this part of business somewhat tolerable!

The gallery owners and collectors who enjoy my art and support my goals are a large inspiration for me to paint. I appreciate them allowing me to share my visions.

Thank you to everybody for helping me to fulfill my dreams!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 661-242-8504
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: JodyValmassyArtist.com

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.