Name: Thomas HODGES
Your personal website: http://www.photoconception.com

1When did you start to make art?
Around 2005.

2 How did you evolve into an artist?
I had been working in fashion photography in earlier years, and after a few years
pause, decided to focus on photographic art in the art-nude and erotic nude genres.

3 What drove you to make art as a professional activity?
I had been working for some 20 years in the financial services industry, with
photography as a secondary profession. Around 2004, I decided to make
photographic art my full-time profession.
4 Could you explain your inspiration?
Yes; the beauty, mystery, sensuality and sexuality of women.

5 In what way does your inspiration transform into ideas?
I find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, at any time of the day and night. I
can be sleeping an awake with an idea in the early hours of the morning. Once an
inspiration has taken root, I usually have little difficulty in converting it to a
specific idea, and ultimately to an artwork.

6 From Ideas to production of art – how? And why?
Once an idea has yielded, it normally takes me anything between one month and
one year to make it a reality and put it into production. Why ?, because I want to
my work to be remembered, to make an impact on society and to find its way to
collectors world-wide.

7 Could your ideas be portrayed in any other medium? If so which?
Yes, painting, sketching, sculpture, installation, to name but three. I myself am
currently starting to integrate my photographic art into physical objects, e.g. wine
bottles, furniture, clothing, etc.

8 What does being an artists mean to you?
Freedom !

9 How important is the internet/social media for the world of art today?
I think it is very important, but not the be all, end all. Art still needs to be viewed
physically and artists need to be in physical contact with their public.

10 How important is the internet for you in your art activities?
Extremely important, but primarily for networking and marketing, not for
physical sales of my work.

11 Are you happy with your reasons for making art? i.e Are there any trade offs that
make life hard?
Yes, very happy, and no, no trade-offs. I do what I do because I want to, and
because I love what I do.

12 When does your art for you become successful?
When it is desired and appreciated by other people.

13 What is art?
The ability to express oneself.

14 How do you start the process of making work?
Inspiration, leading to the conceptulisation of an idea, leading to the capture of a
physical artwork.

15 Who prices your work? And how is the price decided upon?
My work is normally priced by appraisal of professional experts. However, this is
also driven by appreciation and market demand, and also needs to be compatible
with market forces and comparable with other artists of similar stature and status.

16 What is your next; move, project, show etc?
In November this year (2009), I am launching my project “Wine-Art”, which is a
series of 500 wine custom designed and made wine bottles, featuring my award
winning photographic series “Romantica” in the design. This is the first step in my
desire to present my art in alternative forms, and will be followed by furniture
design, fashion design, perfume, etc.
In December this year (2009), I will be shooting a photographic series in Tokyo,
inspired by the film “Pillow Book”. This will also be exhibited internationally, and
published as a book, initially for the Japanese market only.
I also have a number of book publications in progress, the first few of which will be
published in 2010.

17 What are the pros and contras of the art market?
The art market is like any market, it has highs and lows. The important thing if
you want to be recognized and remembered as a prominent artist (of whatever
medium), is to ensure that your name is always at the forefront, and that you are
professional in everything you do. Art is many things to many people, but
ultimately, for a full-time professional artist, it is also a business, and it must be
treated and respected as such.

18 How many artworks have you given away and to whom?
Not many, but what I have given away is normally either for a charitable cause or
as a gift to a close friend. I normally do not name the purchasers / owners of my
work.

19 Any routine in making your artwork? If so what?
No, no routine, every work is diverse as is the creative process leading-up to it.

20 Does the country you are from (your culture) play a role in your art?
No, none whatsoever. I am born in the U.K., but I have lived a majority of my life
overseas, and influence is undoubtedly from those foreign jurisdictions in which I
have lived and worked.

21 Who has been the biggest influence on you?
My wife and muse, Chu Chiao Wang.

22 Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?
All of the pieces, but if I had to name just one, it would for sure be my award
winning series “Romantica”. Aside from that, my artworks entitled “Primas”,
Venus, Shades of White, Wrapped, are all in my favourites list.

23 Anything else you like to say to the Noenga community?
I would just like to thank the community for their interest in my work, and their
obvious appreciation of same. I have physical gallery representation in Lisbon,
Portugal, and would encourage anybody resident in Portugal, to pay a visit to my
gallery when they are next in Lisbon. Feel free to contact me for the name and
address of the gallery in question.