Artist Reminds Us There’s No Place Like Home

In our fast-paced, global-minded world it’s easy to forget the cherished memories of the past and take for granted the historical assets we have around us. We drive by old homes, quaint buildings and beaten paths every day, and don’t stop to think of those who built them, the history they hold, and the doors of opportunity they may have opened for us today.

Thanks to the artistic talents of Duluth native Ann Parsons Odum, cherished memories in the community have been captured in her book “Duluth, Georgia: Through the Eyes of One of Its Own.” For almost 40 years Odum has been sketching key landmarks, homes and landscapes all around Duluth as a hobby.

As people and places came and went through the years, Odum painted to capture the memories they held for her. Her book offers a heartwarming journey down memory lane as she shares vibrant pictures and cherished stories of the people and places that make her hometown a special place to call home.

Odum began painting years ago with her sister Margaret. “She was the artist in the family," Odum said. "One winter Margaret went on a ski trip and broke her leg. She was bedridden for a while, so to pass the time she called one afternoon and asked me to come sit and paint with her. When I picked up the brush that day, I couldn’t put it down. I painted all night long. That’s how it all began.”

From there, Odum signed up to take a three-year Famous Artist course through the mail and sought out every class she could take from artists all around the region. Her first medium was oils, then she migrated to acrylics, and now her preference is pastels. Landscapes are her specialty. Sometimes she paints from still pictures, but she most enjoys painting on-site. Some paintings are finished in two to three days, while others take two to three months.

Odum is now well-known as an artist throughout the Southeast. While she sold her first painting for only $100, her originals today sell for thousands of dollars. About four years ago Odum began to look back over her collection and was astounded that she had captured more than 95 different scenes across Duluth.

While many of the originals were gifted to family and friends or sold in charity auctions or to private collectors, Odum had taken pictures of each piece. Encouraged by her family and friends, she decided to publish her pictorial collection in a book. It was her way of giving back a piece of herself to the community she loves so much.

“Duluth, Georgia: Through the Eyes of One of Its Own” showcases old home places, churches, gathering places, businesses, schools, bridges, cemeteries, murals, and more. Odum is quick to explain that it’s not a history book. It is a memory book. “At first I tried to write it like a history book and struggled. When I shifted to telling the story of the people behind each painting and why I chose to paint each one, it flowed so easily" she said. "As the memories came flooding back, the book came together in just a few weeks.”

“Honestly, I couldn’t believe that there were 95 significant features to paint in this little town. When I was growing up here there was a population of 300-500 people and Duluth was only one square mile.”

Today, Duluth is a thriving metropolitan Atlanta suburban city that’s home to more than 26,000 people. Many of the subjects and landscapes of her childhood have long disappeared. Odum’s book truly captures the history and the heart of Duluth. It’s a feel-good storybook of days gone by that reminds us what community is all about and how important it is for us to all find a place we can truly call home. 

Her book would make a treasured gift for family and friends this holiday season or for any special occasion ahead. Copies of “Duluth, Georgia: Through the Eyes of One of Its Own” can be purchased at Parsons Gifts. Add a copy for your private library, too.

Odum has been autogaphing copies of her book at booksignings in Parsons Gifts and other shops. And for those inquiring minds that want to know, Odum is still painting. She just finished new pastels of the Knox Farm, the Gilbert House and the Rexall Grill, and she promises there’s more to come.