Lee Godie IV

A selection of Lee Godie's portraits painted or drawn in ballpoint pen, full of expression and wandering eyes. 

Lee Godie III

I featured Lee Goodie's (1908-1994) wonderful bird drawings in 2014, here I share her foliage, fungi and a parakeet with foliage that I had not shared earlier. They have a fantastic simplicity and are almost Japanese in their composition.

Lee Godie II

The story of Lee Godie (1908–1994) is a puzzle probably never to be completely solved so far as I can research she was born Jamot Emily Godee in Mudtown, Illinois, as one of a family of 11 children. She married George Hathaway and had three children, however tragedy struck, two of her children died and her marriage failed. From then on (approximately 1968) she lived a transient life on the streets of Chicago. Where she survive as an artist selling her paintings.

In the 1960's she discovered a photo booth at the Greyhound Bus Stop in Chicago, here she would take self-portrait glam shots and add colour to the 5x4 gelatin silver black and white prints. By using lipstick and instant ice tea she was able to create her own unique style, and then hand colour and adjust the photo booth images.

Lee Godie I

Some beautiful work by Lee Godie (1908-1994), Lee was a self taught 'outsider' artist who after the death of two of her children and the break up of her marriage found herself living on the streets of Chicago. For over 30 years she was a character of this city selling her paintings on the steps of the art Institute. late in life she was reunited with her surviving daughter and they lived together for the last three years of Lee's life. Lee's work is now internationally recognised, praised and exhibited, an icon of Chicago city and it's art world. (Thank you)