Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Rhodehamel.
Hi Doug, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t making things, even as a kid. I see potential in things like cardboard and other discarded items and excel at creating things out of them, wonderful little creations. I am constantly finding little bits and pieces of wood, metal or plastic on the ground to be used later in some kind of Doug creation, sculpture, or mixed media artwork.
I usually refer to myself as an artist/designer, but that doesn’t seem to describe what I do. I’m a painter, illustrator, sculptor, industrial designer, concept designer, gardener, teacher, production artist, installation artist, mobile maker, prop designer, model maker and the list goes on. I’ve created dozens of art shows, hundreds of art installations, built hundreds of mobiles, thousands of plastic jellyfish and tens of thousands of paper bag mushrooms.
The thing I’m most proud of is my paper bag mushroom installations. I’ve created tens of thousands of mushrooms made simply from paper lunch bags and installed them in private and public lawns. This started in friends’ yards and moved to festivals, events, museums and eventually became an art movement I called The SPORE Project. I built a website which showed people how to make their own paper bag mushrooms and install them. It promoted the support for creativity and showed the importance of art in schools. Thousands of students, groups and organizations planted tens of thousands of mushrooms throughout the world, on every continent including Antarctica. I retired the project in 2010, but still install mushrooms from time to time and I still see planting from others as well. They always make me smile.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have had challenges. I still do. Every day. Just like everyone. Sometimes not so much, Sometimes it’s too much. I face uncertainty, indecision, it’s hard to find the right people to work with, there’s always a lack of funds and space to do things, but it’s all part of what I do and what makes me who I am.
I never knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I love to create. I love making things. I love exploring all of that in every way. So my scope is very, very broad which makes focusing on one thing almost impossible. I’m always working on several unrelated projects at once and they usually push me to the limit. I mostly work with no budget which is a constant challenge. How to make something fantastic out of nothing. Luckily for me, I specialize in this. It usually takes a lot of kicking and screaming, confusing thoughts, very late nights, sometimes heartbreak, but for the most part, I get things done. It’s what artists do. And for the most part, things turn out nice!
One challenge I’m facing at this moment is something that is completely new to me… film making. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and have never had the equipment. I’m getting there, and if you would like to help me out, I would be ever so grateful!! I’m in the process of getting all my ducks in a row and any financial assistance, large or small or very small, would help a lot!
Venmo: doug-rhodehamel
Paypal: dougrhodehamel
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Like I mentioned before, I really enjoy making things from other things. I do a little bit of everything, but I mostly like to create artwork from parts and pieces I find around. My work usually takes on an organic look. I especially like when I can create something with an organic feel from objects that are manufactured. Broken or melted plastic parts work perfectly for this. So does old cardboard and paper and wood items. A lot of what I do doesn’t have any rhyme or reason. It’s just what pops in my head and I go from there.
My new special, favorite thing is my YouTube channel! @dougrhodehamel. It’s a great space to put all my new, cool, odd and stupid ideas! It’s become so much easier to film and edit in the past few years compared to when I first started out. Go to my channel! See what I’m up to!
https://m.youtube.com/@dougrhodehamel/videos
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I never knew what I wanted to be growing up. Nobody really knew what to do with me. I was always exploring my little world of Doug Stuff and making things out of anything that caught my interest.
I grew up immersed in nature, starting with the magical tide pools in California, to the deeps woods, meadows, creeks and ponds of Ohio and finally to all the odd and wonderful animals and ecosystems that make up Florida. I draw most of my inspiration from nature, some from movies and industry. I combine them all.
I excelled at art in high school school and attended The Columbus College of Art and Design, The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and then finally settled down at The Ohio State University where I received my degree in Industrial Design.
I moved to Florida in the early 90s and have been here since. I’ve worked in many positions as a part time, full time, salary, freelance, consultant and have done everything. Maybe not everything, but a lot. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but I feel like I’m going in a good direction. It feels right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dougrhodehamel.com
- Instagram: @dougrhodehamel
- Facebook: dougrhodehamel
- Youtube: @dougrhodehamel
