Interview With Coffee Artist And Author Dave Wodnicki

If you haven’t heard about the Daily Shot Of Charity Auction, make sure you check it out right now. Today, I wanted to tell you about the the man that was so generous with his work, the artist/author, Dave Wodnicki.

What’s your coffee history?

My coffee history goes back about 20 years or so. The beverage for me (as it is for so many people) was basically a morning jump-start and later in the day, a sort of stay-sharp tonic. It’s a liquid routine that I formed a sort of love-hate relationship with because over time, my experience of seeing and smelling the coffee in my cup without the benefit of really great flavor became a real bummer. This ongoing frustration was eventually resolved through the chance meeting of a few people who were very knowledgeable in finer coffee and gourmet class food. The information they passed on to me was what lit the fuse and made me aware that great tasting coffee is obtained by using high quality beans and the correct preparation. As with any beverage or food, when the main-core ingredient that’s in play is high-quality and thoughtfully brought from it’s raw state to perfect presentation, the taste buds are rewarded. And after all, why should’nt we be able to enjoy great tasting coffee anytime we want. It’s great stuff.

What’s your favorite kind of coffee?

Arabica beans (Columbian / organic) in either a medium roast or dark roast is my typical favorite. I also enjoy blending beans from some of the other countries like Guatemala, Sumatra, Peru etc… I’m still experimenting because I just like to try different things. I must say that the variety is now better than ever, so when for example some new fair-trade independent growers have a new product on the market, I’m usually game to try it. Additional note & plug: To be able to get new information and substantive reviews from you via DailyShotofCoffee (and other coffee culture folks) is very essential because without it, we would never discover the wonderful new products that are out there… we’d all kinda be “stuck-in-the-mud” Thanks Mike!

Why did you decide to write and create art around the coffee theme?

Well, beyond the fact that I really like a nice cup-of-joe, coffee has a huge international following that is in reality, an international gourmet-class culture. My learning about great coffee and my introduction to the world of great taste is a story of enrichment. It’s common to many people but at the same time ellusive to many. To search for and then finally achieve success in the consumption of a drink we so often give up on, is a win for the common man. And why should’nt we be able to have an absolutely perect java anytime we want? I want great coffee, you want great coffee, so let’s have it already! I was passionate about it so I wrote about it. Regarding the art… it all started about 14 years ago at a place where I worked when I made an “I Love Coffee” poster for a co-worker who enjoyed good coffee. She would bring in her own custom coffee blends to make a pot for herself and would share it with me. She explained to me about why the coffee she used was so flavorful and that relationship turned out to be very educational in matters of better coffee. I made the simple poster for her using my computer graphics programs and she liked it. I then made another for myself and then another and another. The computer-design coffee-theme posters were a lot of fun and at the same time challenging me to expand my creative abilities. The basic posters eventually morphed into a complete line of coffee-themed artworks that are now called the “Coffee Coolection” and are sold at one art/gift shop and one gourmet food market. It’s a great hobby and and a very popular and growing subject.

How did you choose the The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation? Why do you think they’re important.

I heard about this organization from a radio program and looked them up on the internet and they are doing a truly fine work. I would never favor one military branch over another because all of them are doing a great job and have made tremendous sacrifices, I just picked this one. I think that their efforts geared towards the children of soldiers who were lost in the war is very important because the children are totally innocent victims of a situation that is totally beyond their control. Their suffering is real and will go on for years and this charity reaches out to them.

You can find out more about Dave and learn more about his art at Coffee Art Designs.

Category: Coffee Information