Hodges Soileau
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
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