It was an honor to create this commissioned portrait, Red Jacket & Poppies, of Melissa. She trusted me with carte blanche to interpret her photograph in my own Pop Art style, which gave me the freedom to shape the composition, choose the decorative elements, and decide how the limited palette would come together.

I used the red jacket as the strongest area of color, allowing it to frame Melissa’s face and give the portrait a confident presence. The black-and-white poppies create a more personal and decorative background while keeping her expression at the center of the painting. I wanted the finished portrait to feel polished, individual, and connected to the bold simplicity found throughout my work.

Artist Brett Hodges’ commissioned gouache Pop Art portrait titled Red Jacket & Poppies, featuring Melissa in a bold red jacket against a decorative black-and-white poppy background, created at Quiet Corner Art Studio in Omaha, NE.
Close-up detail of Melissa’s face, red lips, earring, and black-and-white poppy background in Red Jacket & Poppies, a commissioned gouache Pop Art portrait by Artist Brett Hodges of Quiet Corner Art Studio, Omaha, NE.
Close-up detail of the red jacket in Red Jacket & Poppies, showing textured gouache brushwork, bold black outlines, and black buttons in a commissioned Pop Art portrait by Artist Brett Hodges of Quiet Corner Art Studio, Omaha, NE.
Close-up detail of Melissa’s eye, flowing black-and-white hair, and poppy illustration in Red Jacket & Poppies, a commissioned gouache Pop Art portrait by Artist Brett Hodges of Quiet Corner Art Studio, Omaha, NE.

Artwork Details
Title: #862 Red Jacket & Poppies
Client: Melissa
Creation Date: May 13, 2026
Medium: Winsor & Newton Professional Gouache
Surface: 100% archival cotton paper
Finish: Sealed with Dorland’s Wax
Dimensions: Approximately 20 × 16 inches
Collection: Commissioned Pop Art Portraits
Artist: Brett Hodges
Studio: Quiet Corner Art Studio, Omaha, Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Red Jacket & Poppies by Brett Hodges?
Red Jacket & Poppies is an original commissioned gouache Pop Art portrait of Melissa, created by Omaha-area artist Brett Hodges.

What inspired the Red Jacket & Poppies portrait?
Melissa is an artist who creates beautiful illustrations. I wanted her portrait to reflect her creativity and confident presence while giving me the freedom to interpret her photograph in my own Pop Art style. The red jacket and decorative poppies helped create a portrait that feels bold, personal, and connected to her artistic spirit.

What series is Red Jacket & Poppies part of?
Red Jacket & Poppies is part of the Commissioned Pop Art Portraits series, which features one-of-a-kind portraits created in partnership with individual clients.

What materials were used to create Red Jacket & Poppies?
The portrait was painted with Winsor & Newton Professional Gouache on 100% archival cotton paper and finished with Dorland’s Wax.