Florida travels....

"The Whale" (mosaic, 24"x24") for Elias

"Rocky Sunset" (mixed media, 32"x24") for Rosemarie 

My sister, Rosemarie, turned 60 on March 8.  Her milestone birthday brought me to Sanford, Florida, where I was inspired to create some new art.  My niece, Paloma, wanted something with a whale theme for her newborn's bedroom.  And she suggested I do a beach scene for my sister.  Using some leftover glass tiles and a few other odds and ends, I created the "Rocky Sunset" for the front entrance to Rosemarie's home.

Holiday Show Artwork...

Peace (acrylic, 4x12")

Reach (acrylic, 4x12")

Blue Moon Over Pueblo (acrylic, 12x12")

Red Moon Over Pueblo (acrylic, 12x12")

Choose Joy (acrylic, 4x12")

Pueblo Verde (acrylic, 16x20")

These pieces were created to be part of the SVA Holiday Art Show & Sale in Sheboygan.  It feels good to be productive again.  And I'm certainly enjoying the "pueblo" series.  Let's see where this leads.  -Erico

Membership Exhibits....

It's been a busy summer and fall.  I have been lax in my creations these days as a result.  But I did manage to enter the Walkers Point Center for the Arts Membership Exhibit in September with this piece.  

"Cascadas" (acrylics, 24"x48")

The Riverwest Artists Association Members Show included these two pieces.

"Lost" (acrylics, 4"x4")

"At Sea" (acrylics, 4"x4")

March, April, May...

It comes in a hurry, spring does.  Or does it?  We wait all winter for the warmth, the sunshine, that will soon be summer.  March, April, and May have been busy months:

1) an exhibit at Blicks@MIAD of many of my watercolor paintings.
2) a two-piece exhibit at Next Act Theatre during the run of "Motherhood Outloud" (amazing!)
3) several pieces in "Recycled/Upcycled" at Inspiration Studios.

January in Florida... was not so warm!

I spent 10 days in Florida this January.  It was nice to get away from the Milwaukee cold, but Daytona Beach wasn't very warm.  Cool temperatures at night (40s!) and sunny, decent temps during the day (50-70) meant no tanning, but I stayed warm.  Painting warm images helped.

Paloma's Beach (watercolor, 9x12")

Converting a closet into a wine cellar for my sister and her husband was the purpose of the trip.  It was a fun, creative challenge.  After tiling and grouting, we decided a small grape vine mural at the top would finish it off nicely.  My sister was thrilled with the results.

This painting was the last contribution to the Hernandez Wine Cellar project.  Simple and sweet....like the wine!  -Erico

Labeled (watercolor, 9x12")

Commissioned... Palm Springs!

"Palm Springs" (watercolor, 9x12")

This was requested by friends I met in Palm Springs while I was there for Thanksgiving last November.  I am thoroughly enjoying watercolor these days.  It's a convenient medium while traveling and this piece was completed during a trip to Cozumel, Mexico.  -Erico

While in Palm Springs...

Desert Palms (Watercolor, 9x12")

I am always inspired by palm trees.  They stand so tall, so strong, so solid...yet appearing to be fragile in so many ways.  A wise friend said to me about a month ago, "You just gotta force yourself, Erico.  You need to grab your art supplies, lock yourself in a studio or a place you can work...and just do it!"  Thanks, Renee Bebeau.  I did this on my last full day in Palm Springs ... out in the sun.  -Erico