Hodges had a successful illustration career which lasted twenty five years. His art graced the covers of more than three hundred book covers. He worked for most of the major publishing houses in New York. Hodges was a twenty three year member of the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York. During this time, he received many citations of merit for work exhibited in annual shows. He was selected to do the painting for the twenty ninth call for entries and chaired the thirty fifth annual exhibition. After years of executing ideas and concepts of others, he now paints subjects that are of personal interest. He was a finalist in the 2001 and 2002 Artists Magazine Competition. He received an award of excellence in the 2004 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition. He received an award of excellence in the 2006 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, and received a 2007 Certificate of excellence award in the International Portrait Competition hosted by the Portrait Society of America. Hodges was awarded Signature membership status by Oil Painters of America in December 2008. He also won first place in the category, Portraits of Women, in the Members showcase of the Portrait Society of America 2009. He is a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists awarded 2010. He is also a member of The Portrait Society of America. His work hangs in private collections as well as the United States Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard permanent collections. The permanent collection of Golf Digest Magazine includes several of his paintings. Education Bachelor of Arts, University of Southwestern Louisiana Artist Statement As an artist, I believe in practicing the sound principals of painting that I have learned and currently teach, but I also believe that an artist should strive for something more than just the technical skill in their work. There is a feeling, or reaction, that one gets when standing in front of a painting or a piece of art. Sometimes, it`s not an easy thing to describe. It might be the sense of place in a landscape, the light on the subject, or a fleeting expression in a portrait. These are the types of reactions that one hopes are communicated in his or her paintings. The best scenario is when the technical and the emotional part of painting is inseparable. Organizations Oil Painters of America-Signature Member American Society of Marine Artist- Signature Member Portrait Society of America Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE) Selected Honors and Shows 2011 Oil Painters of America 18th National Exhibition. 2011 Scottsdate Salon, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona. 2011 Salon International , Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio Tx. 2011 PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA, Members Showcase competition, (First Place, Landscape with Figure Category, Honorable Mention, category/non commissioned Portrait. 2010 OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Az. 2010 OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA EASTERN REGIONAL EXHIBITION, Walls Fine Art, Wilmington, North Carolina 2010 AWARDED SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MARINE ARTIST 2009 OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. 2009 OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA EASTERN REGIONAL EXHIBITION, Corse Gallery, Jacksonville, Fl. 2009 PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA, Member Showcase competition, (First Place, category/women, Honorable Mention, category/head and shoulders. 2009 PAINT PARADISE, Venice art center (First Place Award) 2008 AWARDED SIGNATURE MEMBER STATUS FROM THE OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA