A few thoughts from artist Joycelyn Boudreaux:

Joycelyn Boudreaux: “If you’ve ever talked to me about my art.. You’ve likely heard me say that one of my goals is to create work that is meaningful, and to share the stories of my pieces… I hope that those who purchase art from me feel a connection with the piece they own…

I often say that one of my goals is that when you have a piece, that no one in any generation of your family ever thinks of selling it at a garage sale… I follow that up with.. That’s funny and not funny at the same time =)

This piece is the reason for the story… not all friendships last.. I get that… but sell something I created in a garage sale… UGH… just stab me instead…

Original Facebook Status: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1245800294&v=wall&story_fbid=147578675350940

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“Contemporary Cajun” artist creates iconic images with copper

Joycelyn Boudreaux

Louisiana is blessed with a rich culture of artists, craftsmen, musicians and writers. Each week, I will continue to try to bring some of thier stories and creations to you.

Joycelyn Boudreaux is a very unique artist by her own merits. She is originally from Southern Louisiana, home to Cajun music, vast swamplands, French heritage, and many other wonderful things that make her home on the bayous of South Louisiana a very alluring and mystic place.

She has taken the vibrant culture of her upbringings and created beautiful works of art on copper that express what surrounds her. From beautiful swamp scenery to the Fleur-de-lis insignia, she has captured many aspects of what defines her local heritage, and personal story.

Kosmic Blues

While she has worked with many mediums throughout her journey as an artist, it is in working with copper that is her creative voice. It is no coincidence that copper has wonderful metaphysical properties and is a great conductor – not just of electricity…

A Master Patineur by trade, Joycelyn has become best known for her copper work. Using combinations of acids, heat, and humidity, patinas have become her ‘paints’.  Often, she finishes pieces by etching designs into the copper; this highlights the bright copper that lies beneath the deep colors of the patinas.  Joycelyn chose copper as an art medium, because of its reflective nature utilizing light playing off of each finished piece, from every direction, to bring them to life.

Joycelyn mounts the copper plates on the wood canvases that she custom builds. Each canvas is textured and painted with iron paint, and then she rusts the iron to finish with an amazing organic color palette that perfectly complements the natural finish of the copper. Recently, she has begun to incorporate weathered cypress panels, salvaged from her family’s barns.  Adding cypress creates a structural dimension, resulting in a contemporary Cajun feel.

Treasure Crest

Copperhead Studios is a family business located in Houma, La.  There you can find her cozy studio, located in the rear of her home where her children prove to be her hardest critics and strongest supporters. They have had much to celebrate recently, adding corporate clients such as Lancaster House, HG Art and Framing Consultants, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Cajun Fishing Adventures Lodge.  Her daughters are her best sales people, and budding entrepreneurs working side by side setting up for festivals and shows and selling.

Copperhead Studios, Inc. is an evolving dream. An artist with diverse skills and a passion to succeed, she continues to work with new mediums and styles which make Joycelyn Boudreax one of the finest cutting edge artists of the modern century.

Joycelyn has been kind enough to allow us to feature her work on the Gulf Coast Marketplace and to serve as an ambassador for our e-commerce solution for community recovery.

“The Gulf Coast Marketplace is the most optimistic new venture for entrepreneurs throughout the coastal region.

By offering an opportunity to reach a global marketplace through e-commerce, as well as providing a marketing platform via the Bayou Resilience blog, the Gulf Coast Marketplace is nurturing our culture of talented craftsmen, and spirit of entrepreneurship.

From those who have opted to sell their creations in order to supplement their family’s income in hard times, to those who have chosen to pursue their passions, the marketplace is a breath of fresh air. I am very excited to be a part of Gulf Coast Marketplace, especially now, as this story is just beginning…” –  Joycelyn Boudreaux

Visit the Gulf Coast Marketplace or Joycelyn Boudreaux’s website today,www.joycelynboudreaux.com, for the latest examples of her wonderful ”contemporary cajun” creations.