John Todd Partridge
Artist  Savant + Clothing Designer

As a pure artist, I feel that Monet took the words out of my mouth when he said "Colour is my day-long obsession, joy, and torment."  Inspired by the world of color, texture, and pattern around me, I translate my innermost feelings into a tangible form to share with the world. Whether a piece of art or a piece of clothing, I may take weeks to plan, execute, ponder, change and enhance continuously until it's just right.

My personal philosophy and desire in art is pure, simple, and honest . . . be original!!!

The first art shirt I made was purely for myself and to wear to one of my art openings. After all, as an artist how could I show up wearing something everyone else would find on the racks, I thought. When people started buying the shirts off my back, I must say I felt ecstatic.  X2C Art Wear was born!!! In the beginning I didn't make the clothing, I just made it better, but now I make custom clothing from scratch as well as "rework" people's favorite items that they bring to me. Every item is done by hand, it is an original, and never duplicated. People really seem to like to be unique and not worry about running into someone in a public place with the same $300 mass-produced shirt or jeans, but also I don't mass-produce because I would get bored doing the same thing twice, whether it's my clothing or my art.

As a child and young adult I kept my creative urges hidden inside. I never thought that doing what comes naturally to me or doing what I love could ever have an audience. Surprised and blessed, I have found m work in public and private collections from coast-to-coast, Europe, and Mexico in my first two years as a true artist. Born in College Station, Texas, I spent formative years in San Antonio, Japan, Texas A&M University, Chicago, and now call Houston home since 1993. I draw inspiration from travels around the world. My desire in life is to support myself solely with my creative mind.

Since childhood I’ve expressed myself both 2-dimensionally and 3-dimensionally, but truly feel that if my teachers had not given me the feeling that one must be able to draw in order to paint, I would have become an artist a long time ago. At age 15 I decided to move to Osaka, Japan as an exchange student. Immersed with host families, daily attendance in high school, and membership in the high school choir, I had my first dream in the Japanese language my third month and became fluent in the Japanese language that year. I learned 2 of the Japanese calligraphy alphabets and one day my calligraphy teacher noted that I wrote some of the 3^rd alphabet, Kanji, an art form in and of itself, better than my fellow classmates. In college a friend’s birthday gift, a Siamese fighting fish in a tiny bowl, culminated in the 3-dimensional creations of aquariums up to 8 feel tall that ended up in local restaurants and after graduation ended up in high-rise offices and residences. For the first time in my life I learned that there might be a source of appreciation for the fruits of my creativity other than my loved ones. Upon graduating and getting caught up in the proverbial rat race, I had no energy left for my creative side. This period was spent in the steel business, many years as a real estate broker and owner of a real estate company, and then as owner of a small boutique hotel. Feeling claustrophobic, uninspired, and no longer able to suppress my true self, I began to express myself with paint in 2006.

I am always learning and challenging the media and tools with which I work and my art evolves on many levels, from one series to the next. In the same way that Picasso once explained "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary", so do I share my emotions and complete energy in every piece I make.

My work is not about politics, religion, or a host of other hot-button issues in the world today. The only statement for this artist to make is about beauty and creation. "If I could express my feelings in words, there would be no reason for art in my life."   

·         Corporate Collections: Intercontinental Hotel Houston, 19 works

·         Group Exhibitions: Deborah Colton Houston 2008, Cantoni Houston 2008, Diana Ferrone Laguna Beach 2008, Le CAG Houston 2006, Poissant Houston 2007, Laura U. Houston 2007, Lovett Gallery Houston 2006 2007 2008,  Crostini Houston 2006

·         Solo Exhibitions: Lovett Gallery Houston 2006 2007 2008, Mo Mong Houston 2008, Laura U. Houston  2007

·         Study: Gary Hernandez 2006, Houston Art League 2006, Siobhan McCusker 2007, Salli Babbitt 2007

·         Awards: Houston Civic Arts Association Award “Abstract Art” 2006

·         Press: Great Day Houston CBS tv show 2007, Houston Modern Luxury 2007, Tribeza 2007, Houston Chronicle 2007 2008, PaperCity 2007 2008, Outsmart 2007 2008

Truth    Knowledge    Peace