"Water Matters...and Other Matters" 

I am pleased to have an exhibit of my newest collection of paintings at the Itaian Community Center during Spring Gallery Night & Day in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.  I am proud of this collection because it has taken me out of my comfort zone over the past few months of preparation.  The title has two distinct meanings....well, maybe it's threefold...in that these paintings are predominantly watercolor paintings,  That's a first for me!  And the subject matter of many of them is water...and tropical waters...and water frolics.  But other subject matter crept into this collection of paintings.  I hope others will take to it kindly.

Also, I was asked earlier this month to contribute to a group exhibit entitled Spiritual Imagery in America: 20th Century Art and Craft at the UW-Sheboygan Fine Arts Gallery.

This exhibit opened in conjunction with the theatrical production of The Trial of Judas Iscariot and remains on display during the mont of April.

Spring has been busy!   -Erico

Interview?  Me?  Really?  

Sometimes what was perceived as a one-time project takes on its own momentum and becomes something more than what I had anticipated.  Such is the case with the book I published for the Sheboygan Visual Artists and the Mead Library Poetry Circle:  MAKING IT SPEAK: POETS & ARTISTS IN CAHOOTS!  

I was asked to participate in an interview by The Library as Incubator Project. There was definite interest in the art/poetry book but also in my relationship with libraries.  It was quite an enlightening interview... and made me think about something that had never crossed my mind before:  I think there would be a great deal of mutual benefit if libraries housed some sort of creativity center.  The possibilities of that sort of environment would be quite inspiring for a person like me.  This is the link to the article.  I welcome any comments and feedback.  -Erico 

http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?p=16271

More watercolor fun...

                                  

I'm so intrigued by this medium, suddenly.  And it's proving to be a lot of fun creating images... especially faces, which I never felt comfortable doing.  Let's see where this leads.  -Erico

Strong, yet simple!

"The Palms"  (watercolor, 2014)

I was so inspired by the strength and beauty of the tall palms in San Maarten!  Simple, solid, strong, and self-controlled.  But in my mind, I see them as delicate and streamlined.  Their beauty inspires...and challenges.  -Erico

San Maarten...what a vacation!

Divi Resort

     

Shells

Upper pool

                    

Untouchable

The Palms

Under the Sea

A great stay at Divi Little Bay Resort in San Maarten... and a great opportunity to play with watercolor.

Learning to play...

It isn't much of a stretch to know that time is needed when one is trying to learn or develop new skills.  I needed time to play.  I found the time, using a photoshop program, to create these images from photos of my painting entitled "Eye of the Storm."  -Erico

"Eye of the Storm Kaleidoscope 1"  Dec 2014

"Eye of the Storm Kaleidoscope 2" Dec 2014

Here is the original.

"Eye of the Storm"  (acrylic on canvas, 36x36") November 2012

Feeling stuck...

"Purgatory" (acrylic on wood, 17x17") Nov 2014

Sometimes it's hard to put into words some of the sadness or sorrow that is felt around the world.  Sometimes it's just as hard to put into words the inner turmoil one feels.  It certainly feels like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.... purgatory.  -Erico