Jodi Edwards is a Maine-based painter whose abstract and representational work blends vibrant, expressive layers with meticulously measured geometric forms. Jodi often begins with free, emotive brushwork that reflects her inner life, the changing seasons, and the times we live in. Over these energetic underpaintings, she frequently applies precisely rendered shapes—using a T-square and compass—to bring order to the chaos. “The exactness provides serenity in a world that is often unsettled,” she says. In recent years, Jodi has begun exploring a new direction in her art, incorporating representational subjects—such as fish, animals, and figures—into her work. This shift has reenergized her practice, infusing her abstracts with fresh perspective while expanding her creative possibilities.Music is central to her process. “The music is my muse,” she explains. “When it’s working, the paint flows through me easily and effortlessly. I feel connected to something greater than myself and a deep sense of joy.”Born in Syracuse, New York, Jodi grew up in a family that encouraged creativity, providing her with any art supplies she desired. She earned her degree from The New School in 1984 and began working as a professional art model for Parsons, the School of Visual Arts, the Art Students League of New York, and others. Moving to Southampton, she modeled for artists including Norman Bluhm, David Salle, and Larry Rivers. Encouraged by these experiences, she began painting in 1985, selling work almost immediately and debuting in New York City at Thunderdome Studios in 1986.While working at a Southampton café, Jodi met Henry Geldzahler, curator of 20th-century art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who praised her paintings. Around the same time, she met Ella Fitzgerald and served as her dresser for a night at Lincoln Center—an encounter that launched a seven-year career as a singer. In 1995, after losing her brother to AIDS, she moved to New Orleans to pursue music full-time before shifting her focus to teaching English as a Second Language in Massachusetts for 17 years.Jodi’s creative energy has extended to rebuilding two fire-damaged homes largely by hand, an endeavor she describes as a three decade-long work of art. In 2011, she and her husband moved to York, Maine, where she established her 800-square-foot dream studio. By 2015, she was painting full-time, curating “everything from the scarf on my dog’s neck to the shoes on my feet” to match the exuberance of her art. In 2018, Jodi and her husband relocated downeast to Surry and rebuilt a second fire-damaged farmhouse that has been in his family for six generations. She enjoys living in the small town of Surry (pop. 1,500) with her husband and their two dogs, Max and Charli.Learn more about Jodi Edwards on Radio Maine.