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ABN 15 MINUTES GO WEST, YOUNG ARTIST A CHANGE OF SCENERY ALTERS THE CREATIVE FATE OF CODY HOOPER BY JENNIFER M. WOOD "L ocation, location, loca- tion" may be the fi rst rule in real estate, but for Cody Hooper it's a mandate that's equally important in the art world, too. T ree years ago, the 33-year-old artist took a se- rious leap of faith when—despite a tough economy—he decided to pack up his truck and make the 750-mile move from his hometown of Austin, Texas to the bustling (and tough-to-crack) art scene in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "I relocated during a time that wasn't rational," Hooper recalls today. "I even slept in my truck until I eventually landed gallery representation, because I couldn't aff ord a motel. I was determined to put myself in an environment that would fuel my soul, and now I'm living every artist's dream." Less than a year aſt er his arrival, Hooper was one of Santa Fe's rising stars, noted for his unique modernist abstract works that are clearly infl uenced by the natural world around him. JENNIFER WOOD (ABN): When did you fi rst know you wanted to be an artist? CODY HOOPER (CH): When I was about fi ve or six I saw my mom painting with oils at the kitchen table. I would sit in a trance 24 and watch every stroke she made. I loved the richness and smell of the paints, but I wasn't allowed to touch them. She bought me an art desk and supplies that Christmas and it's all I remember want- ing to do from that point forward. ABN: When was the fi rst time you called yourself "an artist?" CH: I guess when I started painting full- time three years ago. T at is when I decided I was an artist and [that] I would survive off of this skill alone. ABN: How would you describe your style? CH: It's abstract with a hint of realism. I like the feel of combining contemporary abstract with natural elements, such as the fl ow of a fl ower shaded into an ab- stracted background. Some of my work has a landscape quality to it. I have lots of styles that I enjoy—some being much bolder than others—but they all relate back to nature. ABN: What's your preferred medium? CH: Acrylic. Mainly because it's easy to manipulate. I come from a watercolor background and I can still use those techniques with acrylic. Layers and lay- ers built upon each other create [a] depth that you can't get with oils. I also like to work quickly, so the drying time of acryl- ics is great. ABN: What attracts you to a subject? CH: Color, composition, textures and movement. I try to re-create all of this in my work. T at's why I love New Mexico so much: You are surrounded by all of this—amazing sunsets, purple misty mountains, the changing seasons. I go hiking oſt en and see interesting things every time I go out. T ere is so much to explore out here and it has a sense of being untouched. ABN: Location seems to play an impor- tant role in your work. WINTER 2012