Boothbay’s newest generation of artist looks higher tech than her classical predecessors. Recent Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) graduate Emma Hodgdon uses an iPad, Apple Pencil and Savage Interactive’s ProCreate software to render illustrations. While she does use a traditional sketchbook at times, by far most of her art is digital.

“Where you come from is important,” the 22-year-old Boothbay native said. She recalled going to art shows and local galleries. “I loved anything with a lot of color. It was helpful to me wanting to be an artist.” While in school in Boston, Hodgdon missed the trees and the ocean. “I’ve worked every summer on my dad’s lobster boat since I was 13,” she said as she described sending out resumes for jobs now related to her degree, a bachelor of fine arts in illustration.

Her goal is to one day teach art. “I need to get established as a concept or graphic artist and then look for teaching or teaching assistant (TA) positions,” she said. Hodgdon was a TA in college and a mentor to Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) gifted and talented students focused on art. She also TA’d for Boothbay Region Elementary School (BRES) educator Jessica Nadeau in the past. Hodgdon looks forward to working with older students on more complex art initiatives.

“Keep drawing,” is her advice to up-and-coming art students. “To all the kids that like art now and may feel alone, just wait until you get to art school. You’ll be blown away when you meet so many people just like you.”

Hodgdon chose MassArt for its resources, good teachers and materials for her disciplines. “I am grateful for that community. I’ve made my best friends there.” This summer, Hodgdon will continue to create art with those MassArt friends on a group collaboration that entails the artists dabbling in one another’s jobs. About 10 artists will create an animated, friend-curated, short presentation pitch which will be uploaded to YouTube. There are animators, storyboarders, character designers, clean up techs, and colorists involved.

Character design is Hodgdon’s domain. “It’s about 50% research and 50% rendering,” she explained. People would be surprised by how much research is required to design a realistic, believable, character with a full range of emotions, she said. Just like an ad agency war room, Hodgdon creates mood boards, inspiration boards and conceptual ideas. She studies period-piece wardrobes and gestures, facial expressions, body language and behaviors. Her portfolio includes characters that are fantastical with horns, wings, elfin features and dramatic coloring. She uses online generators for prompts for practice.

“My friends are a big source of inspiration. We’re always trying to one up each other. Sometimes we would draw out our frustrations after a hard day,” she said. Video games, graphic novels, tabletop board games, “anything in the nerd realm” she laughed, would be a dream job prior to what she hopes will be a rewarding teaching career.

Hodgdon has exhibited her art in West Tower Lobby Gallery, Thompson and DMC Atrium Galleries, and Symphony Hall, all in Boston. She was an illustrator for Boston in 100 Words (September 2021) and is illustrating a children’s book for author Tom Dewey. Her Instagram handle is “Emerdoodles” and her website is https://www.emmahodgdon.com/

Having completed a deep dive research project on the role of AI (artificial intelligence) in college, Hodgdon is confident a computer will not displace her any time soon.

For now, Hodgdon plans to enjoy her last couple months in Boston. She has become a birder and also makes art in gouache, acrylics and printmaking (relief, linoleum and wood block, lithography and collagraphy).