The Art of Presence: A Conversation with Eric O'Dell

In a bright upstairs studio tucked into the historic downtown of Macon, Georgia, Eric O’Dell is doing what he’s always done best—listening, observing, and making. As an associate professor of fine art at Mercer University and a dedicated artist in his own right, O'Dell brings a rare blend of humility, craftsmanship, and emotional depth to his work and his teaching. His journey began, perhaps unsurprisingly, with a moment of clarity at 18: “You’ve got to do what you love,” his high school English teacher told him. For O'Dell, that turned out to be art.

He didn’t come from a formal art background—his high school offered few art classes—but creativity ran deep in the household. His father was a colorist in the textile industry, and his mother was an elementary school teacher who gifted boxes of creative supplies to him and his brothers every Christmas. "We were always encouraged to be creative," he recalls, “and it just stuck.”

Today, O’Dell works primarily with acrylics—drawn to their accessibility, quick drying time, and affordability. He also draws extensively in charcoal, Conté, and graphite, and teaches watercolor, design, and art appreciation. While he's dabbled in sculpture and photography, it’s two-dimensional, hands-on media that have shaped his career and teaching.

When asked what inspires his work, O’Dell speaks of music, travel, and composition. His studio practice is often grounded in quiet, contemplative moments: “It’s like when someone throws a ball and your hand just instinctively grabs it—that’s how I feel when I see something I want to paint.” His pieces often begin with an intuitive reaction to a scene’s light and atmosphere, followed by thoughtful execution and intense craft.

In the classroom, O'Dell brings a deep sense of empathy and mentorship. He speaks of students who discover hidden talents or finally "get it"—like a former football player turned successful painter. “Teaching can keep the solitude of art from becoming lonely,” he says. “When students really engage, they become a source of energy.”

O’Dell has taught at Mercer since the mid-1990s and became a full-time tenured professor in 2013. He’s also deeply involved in Mercer’s international programs, teaching drawing overseas in cities like Florence, Paris, and Athens. These trips enrich both his art and his teaching. “It’s a gift to share those places with students, to make what they’ve read about real,” he says.

His artwork—ranging from small drawings to large-scale paintings—can be found on his website (ericrodell.com) and on social media under “Liberty Hall Eric.” Paintings range from $1,500 to $5,000, while drawings often start around $250. His personal favorite? A painting titled *Heavy in the Air*, created in the wake of his mother’s passing, inspired by both memory and a Willie Nelson lyric.

Now, in a season of deeper artistic focus, O’Dell finds fulfillment in simple routines: morning coffee, painting, a walk through Macon, and dinner with his wife. “The best thing I can do for the people I love is to do the best thing I can do,” he says. And for Eric O’Dell, that means making art, telling stories, and inviting others to see the world a little more clearly.