BACKGROUNDER

NORTHWEST'S ARTIST, AUTHOR & DESIGNER

 JODY BERGSMA

            Bellingham, WA…As a little girl, Jody Bergsma had nightmares. Her mother comforted her by telling her that if she painted them, they would no longer scare her. Her childish monsters, dragons and wide-eyed children, set the stage for her future work; paintings that often had their origins in her dreams.

            By the age of 15, Bergsma was painting professionally, selling her watercolors at local art shows. Hundreds of her originals, mostly of children and pets, were sold during her teenage years. "I found I could make more money than I dreamed at an art show," remarks Bergsma. "The money I made ended up paying for my education."

            Not completely convinced that art could be a legitimate career, Bergsma interests wavered between art and engineering. Studying in Europe inspired her, but her aptitude for mathematics directed her towards a more financially secure future in engineering school. Close to graduation, Bergsma dropped out of college to pursue what she really loved – art.

            "People often told me that my work was immature," says Bergsma. "Art teachers criticized it and my brothers told me I would go broke if I tried to make it as a painter, but I was determined. So with $6000, she printed lithographs of ten of her paintings and sold them at art shows. Soon, she set up a small showroom and warehouse in Bellingham, Washington.

            THE BERGSMA GALLERY now includes a warehouse product showroom, international licensing and sales division and a complete retail and wholesale website, www.bergsma.com, featuring Jody's Archive Restoration Project listing un-published and early paintings!

            Bergsma sets aside periods of seclusion in which she creates her new watercolor sketches and original paintings for all of her products and licensors. "I get up early in the morning and often paint for twelve hours a day during seclusion," comments Bergsma. "My goal is to dedicate myself solely to painting. Being under a deadline to complete everything puts the pressure on that helps me to get the work done."

            Jody's earlier and first recognizable style, Dreamkeepers, consists of a magical world of harmony inhabited by wide-eyed characters and fantasy friends. They celebrate family, friendship, parenthood and love with inspirational sayings. This line has recently taken on a new look and includes a wide array of products from limited edition prints and embossed art cards to plush toys and sun catchers.

            Her second style, Natural Elements, was inspired by childhood trips to the pristine wilderness of the San Juan Islands with her father in his floatplane. The culture of the Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest stirred her imagination, and resulted in artwork with symbolism intermixed with the nature and wildlife that surrounded her. Bergsma takes a trip to a place of beauty that will inspire her Natural Elements work each year. These trips have included Alaska, the Rockies, Florida and even Ireland. Her work is all done in rich vibrant flowing watercolor, which is easily identifiable by her collectors.

            In the last several years, Bergsma has illustrated six children's books. Her first was The Right Touch, which was done to educate children about sexual abuse. Her next book, Sky Castle, is rich with brilliant color and fantastic detail. In the next book, Dreambirds, Bergsma implemented her Natural Elements style. Her most recent projects have been The Little Wizard, Dragon, and Faerie, which she not only illustrated, but also wrote. "This has opened up an exciting new world in my creative life," says Bergsma. "I look forward to doing more in the areas of writing and illustrating." All of Bergsma's books have won numerous awards in the world of children's publishing.

            Jody has completed a wide range of licensed projects for companies such as Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Fiesta Toys, Polar Graphics, Franklin Mint, Sandstone, Edenborough, Mug World, Masterpieces, and Leanin' Tree. Together they create thousands of products sold throughout the world.

            For further information, please contact us here at: BERGSMA GALLERY PRESS, 1301 Fraser Street #A6, Bellingham WA 98229. Toll Free (800) 237-4762 ¨ Local (360) 733-1101 ext. 17. You can get more information and view Bergsma's work online at www.bergsma.com

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