Coffee with Creators: Eric Woodard
Wondering what different creators are getting up to in the Cov? Looking for a little jolt of inspiration? Well, settle in with a cup of whatever sounds good to you. You’re in the right place.
Welcome to a new Art Equals initiative where we invite our friends to share their creative journeys with us. We are very lucky and grateful to be welcomed into their stories. And we hope that in the process, we all glean some new connections, lessons, and encouragement.
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Today we have the joy of getting to know Eric Woodard, a kind supporter of Art Equals, two-year transplant to Covington and active community volunteer.
Eric’s creative path began when his mom took him to Saturday morning art classes as an eight-year-old. There, he discovered his love for drawing, which has only continued to grow over five decades.
Eric’s high school art teacher, Mrs. Jackson, was the one who expanded his artistic expression, introducing him to painting, textiles, pottery and photography. He credits her support, alongside that of his technical school teacher Colleen Parker, as important influences along his creative path.
These people were important to Eric, who explored his creativity even as his parents showed hesitation to his work. He shared with us, “I could spend hours on a project, proudly show them, and get an unenthusiastic ‘Oh, that's nice’ in return. And while he wrote my monthly tuition check, he'd warn me that I needed to find stable employment as I'll never have a career as an artist. I proved him wrong and found a moderately successful career in media and entertainment doing graphic design for Disney, Warner Bros, MGM/United Artists, Mattel, and Sports Illustrated, among other companies. When I signed my contract to write Jeanne Eagels, A Life Revealed, I knew he was proud.”
Who are those people in your life, the ones who have reached out a hand to connect you to the thing that helps you feel more like yourself? Maybe it was a teacher like Eric’s. Or maybe it was an aunt who loved to quilt, a neighbor who taught you to make homemade pizza, or a friend who introduced you to composting. How have they impacted your own creative journey? How might you do the same for someone else?
Maybe you’re still searching for that thing, or that friend. Well, Eric will tell you, “Everyone is creative at something; it doesn't have to be art. It could be growing plants, cooking, or even carpentry.”
For a jolt of inspiration, you can check out some of Eric’s current projects which include a biography about the 1940s/50s film starlet Dona Drake, a series of posters on Covington history, designs for his Redbubble site, and some craft projects. His art is also available at Purple Paisley in Covington, KY.
We’ll leave you with one last push from Eric: “Creating something, for me, is a joyous, fulfilling experience. I love leaving a mark, be it an expression of emotion or information for others to enjoy now and in the future.” Now, time to turn on some instrumental music and get creating!
