Emma Hudson on Showing Up Daily, Fodder School, and Art as Purpose

Host Wendy Solganik interviews UK mixed media artist andlongtime Fodder School member Emma Hudson, first discussing the mixed feelings around AI art as a tool that won’t replace human making. Emma shares her path from studying textiles/fashion and working in London—teaching for years in a special needs school and later in a creative nursery team—to focusing on art after medical retirement, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune issues, caregiving for her mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s, and her daughter leaving for university. She describes lifelong sketchbooks, making cards and projects, anda childhood of “make do and mend,” plus early inspiration from the TV show Take Hart. After starting Instagram in March 2022, she joined Fodder School, posted daily, embraced process over perfection, found community, and now identifies as an artist, exploring collage, gel printing, embroidery on paper, watercolor, pattern, and an earthy sea-and-rust palette. 00:00 Meet Emma Hudson03:28 AI Art Debate13:48 Emma In England14:16 From Seaside To London17:25 Teaching And Family20:29 Rheumatoid Arthritis Shift22:21 Sketchbooks And Projects26:26 Instagram To Fodder School30:27 Finding Her Tribe34:12 Early Art Roots34:53 Scrap Collage Roots36:10 Childhood Materials Memory38:28 Take Hart Felt Tips39:57 Sketchbooks Without Notes43:58 Art Through Life Shifts45:22 Finding Purpose as Artist49:56 Online Community Connection52:28 Art Shops and Access58:49 Always Making Projects59:39 Originality and Inspiration01:04:03 Aging Into Freedom01:06:21 Detaching From Doomscrolling01:07:28 Workday Without News01:09:34 Kids In The Rage Machine01:10:31 Personal Art Practices01:12:34 Learning Styles And Teaching01:16:44 Altering Clothes For Comfort01:21:44 Ancestors And Showing Up01:24:44 Freedom Without Judgment01:27:41 Finding Your Color Palette01:29:51 Why We Love Decay01:33:27 Final Push To Make Art