Josie is a young 20 something whose mantra is never ever give up on yourself or your dreams, nor be afraid to open the next door on the journey. She demonstrates explosive energy and imagination in everyday living. She has a vivacious personality that influences and inspires everyone around her.
Josie’s creativity and imagination have always been a part of her no rules philosophy. Playing with color gives her the two-fold freedom of experiencing brilliancy of the medium and expressing the vibrancy from within.
Josie will utilize any media available; pencils, chalk, pastels, charcoal, Ink, found objects, water color and acrylics. She creates on canvas, murals, plywood planks, trucker hats, canvas shoes, surf and skate boards. She studied fine art in college, where she won a range of art awards including best female artist of the year. She’s is strongly influenced by Holocaust History and Chinese Literature and her love of the water.
Her affair with water has extends beyond her job as a swim teacher to scuba diving in Puget Sound, diving the emerald pools of Opal Creek, surfing the Oregon Coast, swimming with the sharks in New Zealand, snorkeling and body boarding in California, Florida, Hawaii and Mexico. The amazing people she has met along the way have helped her see the “Soul of the World.“* All of which have been strong influences in her art. Along with authors and poets: Kahlil Gibran, William P Young, Albert Einstein (The World As I See It), and Paulo Coelho.
Her start up website of i am freedom, represents a culture that speaks for itself, embracing qualities of life that stand true to individuals who seek the core meaning of freedom.
Josie is just beginning to channel the power from within and is totally enjoying the ride as she discovers all the facets of truly living and experiencing the world with resilience and wicked humor .
Biography Written By:
Shelley Boyer, Final Edit and Layout
Robin Neilson
Christopher Grace
Travis Wiser
A Word From The Artist:
I have met people all over the country who have inspired me in countless ways.
Having a place to post my thoughts, art, and my journey through life has become important to me. in this, I have been able to inspire many others.
I am an avid swimmer, coach, scuba diver, skater, traveler, surfer and above all, artist.
Being able to connect to people all over the world, gives me a since of unity. I have brainstormed with people about art all the way across the pacific to Australia. There is nothing better, than being able to share paintings, quotes, poems or stories from your favorite authors/ artists to widen my knowledge and perception of others. Or even to help boost someone’s self-esteem. The most important thing is to keep moving forward, with a smile. Life is ever changing, and there will always be an opportunity for you to explore in your self, travel, and find love. The trick is, is to really take that one step forward! If all doors have felt like they have been shut, be curious enough, courageous enough, to wonder what is behind the next.
* from Josie's favorite book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho:
“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse then suffering itself. And no heart has suffered when it goes in search of it’s dream.” -Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
"Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there."
-The Alchemist.
want to gander at some of my other art??
http://www.facebook.com/josie.giddings
