About – Jody Bergsma
Creating Inspiration since 1984….
I began painting as a young child. When I was 3 years old my mother encouraged me to paint my dreams in her attempt to understand why I was not sleeping. This helped me work through my night terrors and began the long road into the unraveling of my incredible imagination. This vast invisible world has become the sea of ideas that never runs dry. The beautiful and wonderful images I was seeing in my sleep soon ecliped the bad dreams and a style was born.
When I was fifteen I attended my first ameture Art Show.
I surprised myself by selling all of my fantasy pictures. I attended hundreds of Art Shows, painting literally thousands of paintings during the next 10 years.
My revenue from Art paid for my collage education.
In the 70’s, I lived in Canada and studied art and industrial design/engineering. My exposure to the Canadian Wilderness Impressionism Movement gave me a spark to follow my own artistic evolution. My love for nature merged with this inspiring group of painters from the north and the Natural Elements line came into being.
I now travel the globe to research and gather inspiration.
My imagination continues to be my greatest influence.
“Art is a tradition that helps define who we are and brings us a vision of who we can become. My painting is my expression and request for a more beautiful, peaceful, and harmonious world.”
Wishing you the inspired life,
Jody
www.bergsma.com
hi is it possible to order prints..thank you
Gloria said this on September 20, 2008 at 1:38 pm |
Ach! NOW I know why your art resonates with me so deeply.
“In the 70’s, I lived in Canada and studied art and industrial design/engineering. My exposure to the Canadian Wilderness Impressionism Movement gave me a spark to follow my own artistic evolution. My love for nature merged with this inspiring group of painters from the north and the Natural Elements line came into being.”
I’ve lived in the Canadian Wilderness all my life, including 1/2 of my adult life spent in the sub-Arctic and Arctic. Now, with a drastic change in lifestyle I am finally exploring my artistic/creative side. I’ve spent the last year surfin’ and learning about art online and just started taking some local classes. My instructor said of my first painting “You are an impressionist. Your painting looks like a West Coast shoreline” At the time I was a tad miffed because I was trying to paint more realistically and I have little affinity for the west coast.
Since then I’ve released my preconceived notions of what my art will be and am letting it just come out as it wants to do.
I’ve never seen the term “Canadian Wilderness Impressionism Movement” before and am off to Google it and see where that leads.
I totally enjoy your blog, it’s the first one that I’ve ever followed consistently. Thank goodness for the internets! It’s always here at 3am and now you are as well. What a blessing for this house-bound farm-woman-in-training! Thank you for sharing yourself and your art with us.
on the farm in Manitoba…
Sue ~lost in a fibro-fog said this on October 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm |
It’s the “Group of Seven”. That was something we called them in college when I went to the Vancouver Art School back in the ’70’s.
L. Harris is my favorite. Check out his simple shapes in oil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawren_Harris
With the internet you are never home-bound. The world is at your backdoor, or at least your computer.
jodybergsma said this on October 15, 2008 at 5:24 pm |
Hi, Jody!
I have been receiving your blog for a while, now but it was going into my Spam folder so I only recently have had the opportunity to start reading it. I am a professional artist and illustrator in Othello, Washington. I also have a nutrition business focusing on health and wellness.
You know my mother, Carmen Delceg. I’m Diane Loewen.
I have been an acrylic artist for many years, but am fascinated by your hints regarding watercolors. I have never gone into watercolors (thought about it! LOL) and am curious as to how you prevent bleed when painting your background. When I am looking at the development of your fairy picture I find myself wondering if you use a frisket of some kind? Or is it all just control of the disbursement of your water?
I have taken on students from time to time for my own media but no longer do so. Too busy with life!!! LOL
I’ll continue to follow your most interesting and informative blog. I’m enjoying and appreciating it – and learning from it!
Have an awesome and blessed day!
Diane Delceg Loewen
Diane Loewen said this on October 23, 2008 at 9:05 am |
Dear Jody:
I discovered your incredible art in the book called “Dreambirds.”
A friend of mine has asked me to do a stain glass picture of a big black bird. Her totem animal is the eagle which makes sense since she is a reiki master. Is it okay for me to use the picture of the eagle with the sun at one wing tip and the other touching the moon as a pattern. I would only be using it in the medium of stain glass in colours of my own choosing, also placing the shield with a dreamcatcher with an agate in the center. Your consideration of my request is very much appreciated.
Laura Budd said this on April 4, 2009 at 10:29 am |
You are always welcome to use my artwork for personal art projects, like your stain glass window. In general I like people to know that others have inspired me and I’m thrilled when I can inspire you. I have seen beautiful projects like: quilts, needlepoint, collage, tattoos, wedding invitations, and of course stain glass. Remember if you would like to have some black and white drawings for your patterns, I have two coloring books currently on sale for $3.00 each that each have 20 drawings or you can go to my “sketch” section of my website and download those for free.
jodybergsma said this on April 10, 2009 at 2:00 pm |
How refreshing to have stumbled upon your blog spot this evening. And how kind and warm it is to see familiar faces, paintings and pictures! I’m in disbelief over how grown up Sky is now! I last saw her in her early teens, and Jessi…I miss Jessi and all the great adventures we had on your beautiful property! I hope you are doing well Jody. I walk by the millions of prints framed in my mothers house everyday and they bring me back to great times and memories. Thank you for that. Is there any way you can put me in contact with Jess? My phone crashed and I’ve since lost her phone number…although she may be without if she is venturing about in the world:) Thanks again. Your blog bring me home!
Tara Nielsen said this on April 22, 2009 at 9:12 pm |
Hi Tara!
Jessi is coming home the 3rd of May. She’s been gone almost a year. Send me your number and I’ll have her call you.
She also has a website that talks about her travels. http://www.blarvolution.com
Say Hi to your Mom!
jodybergsma said this on April 24, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
Jody, I have been a fan of your and of Barbara Sternberger for a number of years. I have wanted to take a class from Barbara but do not know how to contact her or find out about classes she may be teaching. Can you help me? Thanks. Mike
Michael Bowen said this on July 2, 2009 at 12:05 pm |
Dear Mike,
Tonight is my last class with Barbara and I will print out your comments and take them to her. You may know she teaches at Western and her new class just started this week. She is a fantastic teacher! I hope she will get back to you.
Best Wishes & Happy Painting, Jody
jodybergsma said this on July 2, 2009 at 2:45 pm |
Now that my youngest had graduated from Western, I will need to make the trek just for you, and not use her as an excuse to visit your shop. I love your northwest animals, Native American, and wilderness designs, as much, or perhaps more than the adorable children designs. Have you done Australiam animals, and indigenous designs? I cannot think of any. Like our culture, they seem to have much to inspire too. If you need a researcher, let me know, I’d go for you!
Lorrie said this on September 26, 2009 at 9:16 am |
Sorry Lorrie!
Nothing from Down under yet!
jodybergsma said this on October 19, 2009 at 4:48 pm |
Dear Jody , what a pleasure to meet you and your staff! Thank you
for taking the time to sign your work that I have loved for years. also thank you for the special thoughts that you put on my grand son Zanes pictures as I’m sure you’ll be an inspiration to
him in years to come. Pat and I will be sure to come and visit you again , Friends from Seattle,Fran and Pat
Fran MacDonald said this on October 5, 2009 at 10:31 am |