Meet Calvin Woodum

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Calvin Woodum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Calvin below.

Calvin, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
As I describe my artistry as a journey, I gain my confidence through the creative process from beginning, during and in the end. Having that feeling of discovery, realization and surprise all coming from the past, present and future, is life changing. I gain my sense of self from navigating my artistic process of creating a work of art that taught me a bevy of lessons, that was unintentional, unexpected but welcomed in the end. It taught me something I didn’t know I needed at that time. It’s that finished piece that comes together in the end but without prior knowledge of what it would be. All of these elements paint an entire picture of me, of who I am and of what I am and that, in itself, is a work of art.

Calvin Woodum

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Calvin Woodum is originally from Wrightsville, GA. Woodum is currently living and working as an artist: an abstract painter in Savannah, GA. As a local artist, he has been painting since 2005 and has been exhibiting since 2009. He has exhibited countless number of times in solo and group exhibitions in galleries, fine dining restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and local businesses. For a number of years, he worked in the Hospitality Industry starting out as a concierge before landing a position in Administration with Visit Savannah/Savannah Chamber Of Commerce. He is a former fashion major at The Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) but shifted his focus to painting using acrylic on canvas, exploring the “layer upon layer” technique. Using a pour and drip method, he creates bold and colorful that touch base on the heavy subject matters and usually his pieces have a universal message in which anyone can relate to.

Woodum is a very active member of Savannah’s thriving art community. He was the 912 featured artist for FEB/March of 2022, which profiles a local African American artist, at Savannah Morning News. He has been profiled numerous times in the local arts and entertainment papers: such as Connect Savannah and Do/Savannah. He was the recipient of and won first prize in the Low Country Artist Contest. His art is featured on the cover of Julia Coates’ book titled: Invisible Diversity Teaching Every Student. His art is featured in the film, “Into The Gravel Pit”.
He was The2024 Winter NARM Quarterly featured artist. He is The Past Chair of Friends of African American Arts (FAAA) at Telfair Museums, a membership engagement group which focuses on African American art & culture. Its core mission is to raise public awareness, encourage the appreciation of and advancement of art of African Americans. It consists of a diverse group of people who appreciates African American art & culture. Upon his departure, he was awarded an award for his outstanding leadership as FAAA Chair (2021-2024).

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Throughout my work history, there were three jobs I’ve had areas of knowledge where I felt I learned lifelong lessons and experiences I utilize in my professional life still today. Retail Sale & Related Experience.
Employed and enrolled as a non-traditional student in a BFA Program as a Fashion Major.
Employed as an employee in various positions in The Hospitality Industry.

How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who’s ready to go on a journey, have a meaningful, thoughtful or tough discussion that touch base on the heavy subject matters or the light-hearted even. When viewing my work, my ideal client is that person who is moved by the piece, whether it evokes a memory, spark an idea or spark an intense emotion. My ideal client is someone who views my art and sees something in it that they can relate to because of the universal message I pride myself on having within my works of art. Universality makes it relatable. Even though, it may not be something they necessarily recognize exactly, I always want people to connect and relate to it. Or if it may be an abstract figure or an organic shape they may recognize and attracts them to the piece is just as rewarding. Also the mood of the piece is the ideal feeling it evokes within them, that may not be something concrete but a realization upon viewing. My ideal client is that person who is genuinely moved by the piece. In the end, they weren’t expecting something to happen but inexplicably it did. My ideal client is someone who doesn’t necessarily tell me about the piece but more so reacts to it.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Patrick Bepko
Somi Benson-Jaja
Rich Burkhart
Courtesy Of The Artist

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