Featured in the Springfield Beacon (October 3, 2007)
50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
Nada ZawodnyCaricature artist turns hobby into retirement career
By Austin Berger
Springfield Beacon
If you were at the Lane County Fair this summer, you probably saw Zada Zawodny's one dollar portraits under the arm of some kid -- probably one of the best deals found at a fair. Or you may have seen her full-scale portraits of other authors and painters. With a dollar and a few minutes, she can paint your portrait without hesitation. Even Lane County commissioner Peter Sorensen got one. What began as a small gig at a fair has now generated some buzz for the 81-year-old Springfield native.
Inspiration to begin: Her caricature drawings began in her words as, “one of those goofy things.” After graduating from the oldest accredited art college in the country, her quick draw caricatures became something of a hobby for her over the past 40-50 years, doing them whenever she was asked. Zawodny retired in the late ‘80s after a very respectable career in advertising design in the Eugene/Springfield area; working along the entire spectrum, from freelancer to art director.
After retirement, she became a director at the Emerald Art Center. After awhile, she decided she was much happier simply being a member and enjoying the classes. Last summer she was approached to set up shop at the Lane County Fair. It was her first time ever doing something like that. A local newspaper article generated a buzz for her, and now she’s taking her pencils and paper to golf courses, retirement homes, and to anyone who has got a buck or two and a few minutes of time.
Important mentor: Her mentor and inspiration to become an artist came to her at a very early age -- three to be exact. Visiting family on vacation in Louisiana, young Nada met her great aunt Norada Bond, a professional artist who would sketch her family while sitting down at the table. While Norada would watch the family, Nada would be watching her. “And I knew…I said ‘when I grow up’ I want to be an artist.” Much to her enjoyment, she made good on it.
Value of art in life: After making that agreement at age three, and following through on that promise for the better part of 78 years, it comes as no shock that Nada finds life without art as something existing in the realm of impossibility. “It’s our history. It is color, it is line, it is shadow. Without it, there wouldn’t be anything really.”
Her Legacy: As far as leaving a legacy, Zawodny hasn’t given much thought to it. She has two children who’ve done remarkably well. While her daughter has three degrees and works as a controller for a large non-profit, her son carries the artistic torch, making a name for himself as an architect. Her own drawings may go to her family and friends, but her drawings are like photographs -- capturing moments in time and pinned down onto paper -- awaiting the next generation of viewers.
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About The Artist
Birthplace: Rose Point, Montana
Arts education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design: Art Institute of Maryland; numerous classes from local art schools
Media of choice: Pen and Ink or Pastel
Favorite place to do art: A studio her son built for her at home.
Favorite subjects to paint: “If there are no people in it, the picture’s not a finished painting to me.”
Arts organizations: EEAA, Springfield Arts Commission
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