Jodie Prud’homme
Jodie, an artist with a background in Mechanical Engineering, thrives on technical challenges and complications, setting her apart in the world of design. Despite her affinity for technical intricacies, her design aesthetic remains subdued and unobtrusive, inviting viewers to discover clever nuances embedded within her creations.
Jodie's forms possess a captivating allure, drawing viewers in like a well-crafted inside joke. While visually understated, her designs hold hidden complexity, inviting observers to delve deeper into their architectural and sculptural influences. With a wink and a nod, Jodie reveals the secret behind her methodology, inviting others to unravel the layers of her artistic process.
With a playful and inventive spirit, Jodie continues to challenge herself and redefine the boundaries of her craft. Her works stand as testaments to her unwavering dedication to pushing the limits of what is possible, all while maintaining a sense of understated elegance and intrigue.
Background
Jodie began exploring woodworking during a sabbatical from a tech start-up in San Francisco, apprenticing under a local woodworker who became a mentor. Their guidance sparked Jodie's passion and creativity, leading her to pursue woodworking more seriously. Inspired by a student exhibition, Jodie enrolled at the Krenov School of Fine Furniture in 2017, elevating her expertise to new heights.
Since then, she has skillfully balanced her engineering and woodworking careers, dedicating equal time to each. This balance has allowed her personal, professional, and creative growth, fostering flexibility and avenues for self-expression.
Jodie also enjoys passing on her knowledge through teaching. She has contributed to the development and instruction of various woodworking classes alongside her friend and fellow artist, Phoebe Kuo. Additionally, she has taught at The Arrowmont School of Arts in Tennessee and the Randall Museum in San Francisco.
“Seriously, every project I dream up for myself I end up doing something that makes it just that extra bit harder to execute, or requires problem solving my way towards figuring out how to do it.”
When did you realize ‘this is it—I’m a woodworker now’? There are so many moments in woodworking that have captured my imagination, spirit of play, sense of creative flow and camaraderie with my community, that it’s hard to pick an isolated event. However, my time at the Krenov School was pivotal in cementing my identity as a woodworker and as a member of the woodworking community. It was coming out of that program that I had the sense that woodworking was now a central part of my life—personally and professionally.
What do you look for in a good space to work in? Good lighting—how else can I see the most hairline of gaps in my joints without it? And the allowance to make dust and noise.
Tell us about your working space. I’m both very fortunate and very unfortunate. I have a studio space which is close to my home and easy for me to come and go from. It makes working long and odd hours on a project so much easier. It also provides the quiet and the privacy I sometimes find helpful for my creative process. But it’s not the same space in which I have access to all the machinery I need for my work—that’s in a different city altogether. Juggling the logistics of a project across two working spaces is often quite the challenge! Still, the spaces I have are wonderful places to work and the people I share them with have been good humans. Both have good lighting.
What inspires the work you make? Humor, play, a gentle teasing of one’s expectations. As well as my fascination with our built environment and a personal enjoyment of technical challenges. To name just a few things.
What is your favorite tool? Drawknives! Really, any sharp tool will be a delight to work with but the form possibilities from such a simple tool is amazing, and the rhythm and flow you can get into while working with it is mesmerizing.
What is your favorite thing to make? A problem. Seriously, every project I dream up for myself I end up doing something that makes it just that extra bit harder to execute, or requires problem solving my way towards figuring out how to do it.
What’s wrong with the furniture industry? I think it’s the same thing that’s wrong in a lot of industries—excess consumption driven by capitalism. Among the many issues this creates are problems of ecological sustainability and a devaluing of craft and labor.
Do you have any pets? Sadly no, but I dream of having a shop dog to be my daily woodworking buddy. I think her name is Jeff.
