Subtly glowing with genuine pearls and a luminescent neutral palette, the "Rhapsody of Pearl" series by Texas artist, John Todd Partridge evokes sensual beauty and refined glamour. As in all his work, Partridge's nuanced layers of gems and color create a rare and distinct experience.
Partridge draws inspiration from the variety of color, texture, and pattern he’s been exposed to during his travels around the world. At age fifteen, Partridge moved to Osaka, Japan as an exchange student.
Immersed with host families, daily attendance in high school, and membership in the high school choir, Partridge became fluent in the Japanese language soon after. He quickly learned two of the Japanese calligraphy alphabets but it was when he mastered a third, Kanji, that instructors took notice. Kanji is an art form in and of itself. One Kanji character may be used to write one or more different words or thoughts - a single picture telling a story. Partridge’s calligraphy teacher noted that his skill at Kanji was advanced compared to his fellow native speaking classmates.
He has since trained in Europe and South Africa and now makes his home in Houston where he pursues his career as a full time artist. Partridge recently made Texas headlines when the Intercontinental Hotel Houston Texas purchased nineteen of his original pieces for its Permanent Collection to be feature in its three-salon venue.
“I translate my innermost feelings into a tangible form to share with the world. One work may be dozens of layers and take months to execute. My work is not about politics, religion, or a host of other hot-button issues in the world today. The only statement for this artist to make is about beauty and creation. My work will never be a derivative or tangent of another artist, past or present. For me, Art is honesty. Art is originality.
-John Todd Partridge
John Todd Partridge on CBS morning show
"Great Day Houston"
