Hi, I’m Raechel Bodie, I was drawn into the world of art twenty-four years ago as a freshman in High School. My parents tell me as a young child they would never guess this is where I would be now. In High School, given the choice of art or music, I chose art. Under the guiding hand of my art teacher, Mr. Bobby Newsome, I discovered a passion for the world of art, and I discovered the artist within me.
My primary medium is acrylics, but I continue to push myself as an artist as I experiment with new mediums and styles. Since High School, I have been commissioned to create murals for both homes and businesses. Much of the projects have depicted some form of landscape or nature scenes depicting animals. When art was removed from my children’s school, I approached the school on a voluntary basis to bring art back. I was honored to become part of their teaching staff as Art Teacher.
I took a break from art to complete my college degree as a Surgical Tech. and shortly after that my family and I moved to the Lake City/Ft. White area for employment in the local hospital. Since moving here I have been commissioned to paint portraits of much-loved family members and cherished pets. Because of my work constraints I am unable to lock myself in my studio for days at a time to complete a project. However, it is my goal to one day have the freedom to do just that.
Although, I did not want to be in the High School band or choir, music is very much a part of the artistic process in my work. After the initial sketch is completed, the music comes on, helping me focus on the project before me. I do my best to not walk away until the vision in my head has been captured on the canvas before me.
I describe my style as being a Realist. In art, I strive to capture a particular moment in time in its natural setting. There is beauty in our natural world as created by God and my faith in him is a big part of where I draw my inspiration from. He guides my point of view as my brush sweeps across my canvas. It is in the form of artistry that I found the freedom to express myself, or I found my voice. As I continue to journey this path, it is my goal to become more established as an artist, become involved in the community of artists, build collections in multiple mediums, and to inspire and mentor new artists as God would lead me.