Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori (Ody) West.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Briefly, I had an artistic upbringing, was born in Oregon and was honored in school for my talents. After high school, worked as a seamstress in a biker leather company owned by my Mom. I moved to east San Diego in 2008 with my wildly supportive and encouraging fiancé and his two kids, and we were married in 2009. We had two more kids and my art had taken a backseat to life, but my husband was always pushing me to continue. In 2016 I started a little art business, putting out mostly pet portraits, and in 2017 turned my sights to furniture and haven’t looked back. I am now a furniture hoarder, collecting pieces and redoing them in fun styles, like grunge, goth, steampunk, and themed finishes. I still do pet portraits, but my heart lies with learning all the techniques to become a master in creating really interesting and unique furniture.
Full story!!
My mom is an artist and started the mural culture (a story within itself!!) in cottage grove Oregon where I was born. Her influence really got me started and I enjoyed art all through school and won the artist of the year award in junior and senior year, which was an honor given to only one student in the entire school. After high school I moved to Idaho and helped my mom in her leather company, as a seamstress. I did some art casually during that time, and in 2007 I met my future husband and my future kids and we all moved to San Diego in 2008 and were married in 2009.
We had two more kids, and I hadn’t done any art for a really long time. In 2011 I drew a pencil portrait of my Great Grandma, and my husband made a few skimboards which I painted. In 2012 we moved up to Perris for Kris’ work, and he bought me a screen printing setup for Christmas, and I never thought I would have room or time to use it. We moved back to Lakeside in 2014. In 2016, my sister asked me to paint portraits of her dogs, two adorable Boston Terriers. I was surprised that I still had the gift, I didn’t expect to do a good job, but they came out beautifully!
During the big election frenzy, at a political meeting, I was invited to an art fundraiser, and I pumped out a lot of cool stuff for that. Some of it was really good, and I decided to make prints and try out my screen printing setup. I wanted really good shirts for that, and in order to get the great ones for a good price, I had to get a tax ID number so, I did! Made a business and got the shirts.
In school, they always ask you how you got your name- how your parents decided to name you what they did. My story was boring, so I pretended that I was named for the succubus the Lorelei. Sometimes the teacher would make us do reports, and I came across the word “Odylic” which is the force of attraction between things, an animal magnetism, the feeling of desire. I had always loved that word, so when it was time to make a business name, I felt Odylic fit really well, and so was born “Odylic Arts.” I now am known to a select group of friends as “Ody.”
I had planned on doing t-shirts and costuming, but I wanted a refresher course on sewing because I hadn’t sewn since I moved to San Diego, except for a few “get ready for baby” projects. I also wanted to get back into leather work and I already knew most of the repair and alterations stuff from working with my mom. So, we picked up an industrial sewing machine and cleared some space in the garage for my “shop.” Started taking a sewing class at Grossmont adult school. (Really fun, you should look into all the classes there.) I realized after the first course, that I still remember all my sewing tricks and that this class was not for me. Next door there was an upholstery class and I already had an industrial machine, I could learn a new skill, and I have always loved furniture and fixing things. So, I took that class and was in love! Tony Asaro was my teacher and I bought my first chair to refinish.
The rest… is history, as they say, I began buying up all kinds of furniture to refinish. Meanwhile, I was getting a pet portrait following and I had made a Facebook page and people were buying my art, which felt really good. I finished my first chair (inspired by the character Jack Skellington from Disney’s “A Nightmare before Christmas” and had it for sale for about four months with many, many, lowball offers, but finally the right person saw it and bought it for full asking price. The lady has a haunted mansion themed room!
So all my other ideas of where my business was heading, kind of flew out the window when my love for furniture came bubbling to the top. Still doing pet portraits I was putting the rest of my artistic juices into refinishing furniture. I made a pirate desk, which sold before it was done and made two “Bat Chairs” which are still for sale if you like Bats or Batman! I’ve done some (boring) furniture as well, just normal stuff. But I have had to stop buying things because I have too many projects to refinish now, and all of them have an idea in my head. My friend Stacey who also refinishes furniture, always texts me when she sees roadside stuff, but I already have way too much. With four kids and sports and driving them places, I hardly have time to get things done, and my space is now limited as well because, well, I’m a furniture hoarder apparently!
I have several pieces in the works, and they should be a fun to watch out for! Each piece is an adventure and practice for all the different techniques. I am a lifelong learner and this is an area I in which want to be a master. I hope you come check out my art!
Please tell us about your art.
I struggled for a while. was my goal to pump out items that looked bland, that anyone could do? I did, to learn technique, but I evolved, and what I needed was artistic integrity on each piece, pouring my creative juices into every refinish. I look at a piece and try to decide what it’s telling me, and making that happen, I experiment with new ideas along the way. Usually things don’t come out how I am thinking, but they do come out a lot more interesting and fun, with layers upon layers of eye catching detail. I hope when someone sees my work, they are stunned by how it all comes together as a whole. I want people to see my stuff and be full of wonder and intrigue, saying “how could someone have made this?!”
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
There are a lot of resources out there nowadays for artists, I enjoy joining art pages on Facebook and I am able to share my work and get support. I also enjoy the attention that comes with making a business page on Facebook. It always feels good to know you’re appreciated.
When I was first starting I met the owner of the Thumbprint Gallery in La Jolla, a man named Johnny Tran. He does art shows all the time, and small-time artists that need a spot to sell their work are welcome to put their art into those shows. Many artists show up and it is a great thrill to sell your art,
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find my work on my Facebook business page at Facebook.com/OdylicArts. Support my little local business by buying something! Maybe you need some themed furniture, or your old jewelry box needs a steampunk refinish! Have your pet’s portrait painted, and they make great gifts! I currently have several pieces done and waiting for their new homes!
Contact Info:
- Email: OdylicArts@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/OdylicArts
- Facebook: facebook.com/OdylicArts
- Other: Pinterest.com/OdylicArts
Image Credit:
All images belong to Odylic Arts
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