Erico Ortiz

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

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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

Gallery Exhibits

--Sep 11-Oct 5, 2020 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Member Show

--Aug 28-Sep 24, 2020, "I Forgot My Glasses" Exhibit with The Martini Girls, Art*Bar (Honorable Mention Award for Warrior Princess)

--Sep 23-Oct 25, 2019 Riverwest Artists Association Members Show

--Aug 30-Sep 30, 2019 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Member Show

--Aug 23-Sep 24, 2019, "The Thin Black Line" Exhibit with The Martini Girls, Art*Bar

--Mar 7-17, 2019, "The Cemetery Club" Display, West Allis Players

--Aug 31-Sep 30, 2018 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Member Show

--Nov 3-Dec 31, 2017 Art*Bar Mini Art Show & Sale

--Sep 9-Oct 7, 2017 Riverwest Artists Association Members Show

--Sep 1-30, 2017 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Member Show

--Jun 30-Jul 28, 2017 Sheboygan Visual Artists 10th Anniversary Exhibit

--Dec 2-18, 2016 "Holiday Art Show & Sale" Sheboygan Visual Artists

--Nov 4-Dec 31, 2016 Art*Bar Mini Art Show & Sale

--Oct 28-Nov 18, 2016 "When Darkness Falls" Sheboygan Visual Artists

--Sep 9-Oct 5, 2016 Riverwest Artists Association Members Show

--Sep 2016 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Members Show

--May-Jun, 2016 "Recycled/Upcycled" Inspiration Studios

--Apr-May, 2016 "Motherhood Outloud" Exhibit, Next Act Theatre

--Mar-May, 2016 Watercolor Exhibit, Blicks@MIAD

--Nov 3-Dec 31, 2015 Art*Bar Mini-Art Show & Sale

--Sep 26-27, 2015 Riverwest ArtWalk 2015, Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, Milwaukee

--Jul 2-Aug 31, 2015 "Water Matters" Wauwatosa Library Exhibit

--Apr 17-18, 2015 "Water Matters" Gallery Night/Day, Italian Community Center

--Apr 2-3, 2015 UW-Sheboygan Fine Arts Gallery:

Spiritual Imagery in America: 20th Century Art & Craft

--Feb 27-Mar 15 Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Friays: Wine & Art Event

--Dec 6, 2014-Jan 7, 2015 Inspiration Studios, West Allis: Village Playhouse Members Show

--Nov 10-Dec 31, 2014 Art*Bar Mini-Art Show/Sale

--Oct 4-Nov 2, 2014 Inspiration Studios, West Allis: Resting Places (Collaborative exhibit with photographer, Mary Wagner, of West Bend)

--Sep 8-Oct 5, 2014 Glas, Sheboygan: Solo Exhibit

--Sep 5-Oct 4, 2014 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Annual Members Show

--July 25, 2014 Sheboygan Visual Artists Small Works Project

--May 30, 2014 Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Friday: Portraits

--Mar 28-Apr 13, 2014 Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Friday: Making It Speak: Poets & Artists in Cahoots!

--Jan 31-Feb 16, 2014 Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Friday: Wine & Art Go Together!

--Nov 22-Dec 20, 2013 Sheboygan Visual Artists Holiday Show & Sale

--Oct 5-6, 2013 Riverwest ArtWalk 2013, Milwaukee

--Sep 27-Oct 20, 2013 Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Fridays: NEW MEMBERS SHOW

--Sep 6-Oct 5, 2013 Walkers Point Center for the Arts Annual Members Show

--Aug 23, 2013 Sheboygan Visual Artists SmallWorks Project

--Jul 26-Aug 15, 2013, Gallery Night/Day, Milwaukee Village Church: MIDSUMMER DREAMING IN THE CITY

--Jul 26-Aug 31, 2013 Gallery Night/Day, Theatre Unchained, Milwaukee: WORKS OF A RANDOM NATURE

--Jun 11-Jul 9, 2013 Milwaukee Riverwest Artists Featured Member: FULL SPECTRUM (collaborative exhibit with Todd Mrozinski and Brian Hibbard)

--May 31-Jun 1, 2013 Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Friday: SCAPES

--May 18, 2013 Art Jamboree, Milwaukee Grand Ave Mall

--Apr 26-May 11, 2013 Sheboygan Visual Artists 6th Annual Juried Membership Show----Honorable Mention Award received for: "Empty Bowl"

--Mar 9, 2013 Cedarburg Arts in The Burbs Fair

--Feb 22-23, 2013 Sheboygan Visual Artists February Final Friday: ABSTRACTION

--Jan 25, 2013 Art Jamboree, Milwaukee Downtown Hilton

--Jan 18-Feb 17, 2013 Gallery Night/Day, Milwaukee Village Church: RISK TAKERS & STORY TELLERS

--Nov 2012-May 2013 O'Lydias Pub Gallery Display, Milwaukee RANDOM WORKS

--Oct 6-7, 2012 Milwaukee Riverwest Artists ArtWalk 2012: ERICO'S GALLERY (First exhibit!)