Erico Ortiz: September 2024

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Floral Blues...

"Floral Blues" (acrylics, 24x48")

I donate so many pieces of art to community fundraising events! This was created as a donation piece for La Causa Inc. with the intention of being auctioned off for their Respite Care Nursery. Hopefully it brought in a decent donation from those who attended the Gala 2024. -Erico

Sunday, September 8, 2024

From Where I Sit...

"Dottie" (acrylic on child's chair)

The Wisconsin Visual Artists-Southest Chapter has been after me to join the organization for quite some time. I finally did. I'm learning to expand my horizons a bit, to take some chances with objects and designs that I've not considered before. "Dottie" is being introduced to the world at Lakeland University Gallery in an exhibit entitled From Where I Sit which features over 20 chairs that have become part of the gallery's installation. I'm excited to see the entire installation, as well as the many 2D pieces that are also part of the exhibit, to see how creative people can get even more creative with an object like a chair. -Erico

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