BIOGRAPHY
Bodega has led a truly adventurous life filled with remarkable experiences. From honorably serving aboard aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy, his journey has been anything but ordinary. He worked at Atari, testing iconic games like Pac-Man, and once found himself lost in the jungles of Central America for days while caving, uncovering ancient Mayan ceremonial pottery buried beneath centuries of cave dust.
Bodega has also dedicated time volunteering at an orphanage in South Korea and participating in medical mission trips across the Caribbean. As an entrepreneur for 27 years, he sold art across galleries, festivals, wineries, and gatherings of all kinds—spreading creativity wherever he goes. His life continues to be a tapestry of incredible adventures, with many more to come.
Everything changed for me when one day I was selling abstract art next to turnips at a farmer's market. I had setup a table complete with canvas, brushes, paints and napkins and let the kids paint while I talked art with the parents. Some splattered paint with wild abandon, while others delicately layered swaths of color, carefully considering each stroke. It struck me how pure their creativity was, untainted by self-doubt or the pressure to conform to any standards.​​​​​
As I stood there, surrounded by the vibrant colors splashed across the canvas and the joyful laughter filling the air, I realized that the essence of art had been lost on me for far too long. My own paintings had become too calculated, too constrained by the opinions of others, and the critical voice in my head that whispered doubts over every brushstroke. In contrast, these kids were free. They were painting with abandon, throwing colors together without any concern about whether it would look “good” or “right.”
Their innocence and fearless exploration sparked something within me—a rekindling of the passion that had once driven my own artistry. I took a moment to step back from my own table, where I had been so focused on piece after piece of abstract work, and instead picked up a brush. With a spontaneity that felt foreign yet thrilling, I joined the children, moving my hands across the canvas in bold sweeps and wild dabs of paint.
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As I played alongside the kids, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably, I felt a weight lift—like a thousand little expectations I had carried for years fell away. My creations turned chaotic yet beautiful; swirls of color blended into shapes that resembled nothing and yet everything. My heart raced with joy, and suddenly I understood what it meant to truly create. It was not about the final product; it was about the process, the experience, the spiritual freedom.
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Throughout the day, I realized that this return to a childlike Eden had much more to teach me than just how to paint. As I engaged with the children, I absorbed their perspectives on the world. They didn’t worry about the critique of an audience; instead, they reveled in the moment.
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In that instant, I felt a shift. I wasn’t just an abstract artist; I was a storyteller, a weaver of dreams and fantasies. The children's visions reminded me that art transcends the visual realm; it’s about sharing experiences, emotions, and creative connections.
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As the sun began to set and the farmer's market wound down, I packed up my supplies with a renewed sense of purpose. I had learned more than just how to paint without fear. I had been reminded of the importance of play, imagination, and the beauty of creating for the sheer joy of it. Eden wasn’t just a place I could return to; it was a mindset.
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So, I made a promise to myself: I would embrace that child-like wonder in every piece I created moving forward. I would allow myself to be messy, to explore, and to dream without boundaries. And who knows? Perhaps Eden would not just be a memory but a canvas waiting to be filled with the vibrant colors of my imagination, one brushstroke at a time.
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STUDIO
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