Erico Ortiz: May 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023

Paddygrass Irish Band...

"Ribbons" (acrylic, 30x30")

"Ribbons" (photoshop version with curls)

Last summer, Derek Byrne asked me to create an art piece for the next Paddygrass band album cover. I struggled for months trying to come up with something that would engulf the idea of ribbons in a Celtic way. Using one of the traditional Celtic tree images, I painted the original "Ribbons" and realized it needed more. Playing with a Corel Photoshop feature, I stumbled upon the curls... and I love it! I'm anxious to see how it looks on the next CD jacket. -Erico

Waukesha Civic Theatre....

"Orange Poppies" (acrylic on wood panel, 12x30")

The second piece created for the fundraising event at Waukesha Civic Theatre. I am sometimes surprised by what I can accomplish if I set my mind to it. This was my first full painting on wood... and I like how it turned out. Hopefully others will enjoy it as much and that it will sell at a decent price to help support the many great events at WCT. -Erico

Waukesha Civic Theatre...

"Birch Trees" (acrylic, 16x20")

Waukesha Civic Theatre has welcomed me with open arms. I am making my directorial debut with a charming play called BLOOM. I have the perfect cast and am thrilled to cooperate in whatever ways I can to the theatre. "Birch Trees" was created as a donation piece for a silent auction fundraiser taking place this weekend. It's one of three donated pieces of art I created for the event. Hopefully it will bring in a nice profit to support all the projects that take place at WCT. -Erico

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Biographical Note

Erico Ortiz was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico in 1955. He earned his undergraduate degree at Marquette University (Spanish Education) and a Masters Degree from UW-Milwaukee (Administrative Leadership). Erico taught Spanish for ten years and then became a school administrator, having worked at several Milwaukee Public Schools until retiring in 2011. He has worked with several community theatre companies, both on stage and behind the scenes, something he still enjoys today. He plays guitar and, until June 2019, could be found Sunday mornings directing the Spanish choir at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Milwaukee. In 2014, he opened Inspiration Studios, a small art gallery and performance venue in downtown West Allis that he owns and manages. Erico's life is all about the arts!

Artist's Statement

In 1998, a study leave immersed me in art education courses at UW-Milwaukee. While this was not the traditional studio coursework that a budding artist would undertake, I learned the value of critical thinking and problem-solving as they relate to educating students in the arts. After years of rather humble artistic endeavors, my retirement from the Milwaukee Public Schools in 2011 provided the opportunity I needed to explore visual arts as never before. I began to paint! I realized that inspiration was all around me—in people and places, sights and sounds, music and movies.

As part of my creative process, I determine the idea for a project. Then the first challenge is the mixing and blending of colors to achieve a certain effect on a canvas, a challenge I truly enjoy. Sometimes that selection process takes on a life of its own... and I'm forced to abandon my initial intention to give way to a new creative thought. Still honing skills and techniques, I am often thrilled (and sometimes pleasantly surprised!) by the resulting color compositions and the overall product.

What began as a hobby has become a way of viewing the world and expressing my mind’s eye on canvas. If you choose to view these pages, you will see that I am still finding my way.

Erico Ortiz