Storm's a-comin'...

"Storm's A-comin'" (acrylic on wood, 17x17") Aug 30, 2014

Is summer really ending?  Already?!  It seems the older I get, the more difficult it is to deal with the changing of seasons.  It's the end of August.  I know we'll have some good weather ahead of us, but this summer seems to have passed so quickly.  I still haven't figured out a way to embrace our winters.  I survive them, but I don't embrace them.  And the storm's a-comin'. -Erico

Windows abound...

For some reason, windows still fascinate me.  Maybe it's the view that fascinates me.  Maybe it's the idea of being sheltered.  Or the design.  Or the idea that there's something OUT THERE for me.  Here's my latest window...  -Erico

"Window Purple" (acrylic, 24x24") August 2014

Donations abound...

Lately, I find myself being asked often to donate pieces of art to benefit my church community and charitable organizations in the greater Milwaukee area.  I was approached by America SCORES Milwaukee, an organization that provides out-of-school opportunities for children, including athletics and arts, to consider creating an original piece of art for an October fundraising event.  The Inspired Art project takes poems written by America SCORES Milwaukee youth and asks local and regional artists to create one of a kind pieces inspired by their words.  Each piece of original artwork is photographed and compiled into a graphic collection of SCORES art and imagery with selected pieces brought to auction in a gallery-night themed cocktail event.  Inspired Art truly brings the words of youth to life.  It took a while to choose the right poem for me, but here it is.

Edwin, Age 10

Star

I wish I was a star

To be high in the sky

Shining down on you

As you say goodnight

"Good Night"  (acrylic, 24x24")  July 2014

SVA Small Works 2014...

Here are my contributions to the Sheboygan Visual Artists' Small Works for this year.  I committed to painting ten of our 8x10" canvases...and they are done!  Here's a sampling.  -Erico

   

                

Pentecostés

"Pentecostés"  (acrylic, 36"x48")  May 2014

Seven weeks have passed since the celebration of Easter.  At my church, I have sung for the lives of three members who have now left us.  As often as I sing a funeral, it never really sinks in that these individuals are gone from this world until long after I've missed them for a while.  Maybe that's a coping mechanism.  Maybe that's a sign of hope.  I'm glad to have been a part of their lives.  I'm glad they were a part of mine.  Their spirits live on... in us... around us... with us.

I've missed painting over the past couple of months.  I'm glad to share this in their names.  It's Pentecost.  -Erico

Commissioned gift...

While teaching some guitar songs to a new church choir member, he spoke to me about his trouble finding appropriate gifts for his wife's birthdays in the past.  He wanted to do something different this year and asked me if I could create a small piece for her, something colorful that included one of her favorite Spanish quotes.  This is the result.  She'll get it on Wednesday, April 2.  -Erico

"Agua que no has de beber..." (acrylic on canvas, 12x12") March 31, 2014

Making It Speak:  Poets & Artists in Cahoots!

Seventeen artists from the Sheboygan Visual Artists and sixteen poets from the Mead Library Poetry Circle took on the challenge of creating new works inspired by each others' art and poetry.  The artists received envelopes (randomly assigned) with three poems from one poet.  The artist was to choose one of the poems for inspiration of a new work of art.  The poets received envelopes with three art images from one artist each (also randomly assigned).  The poet was to choose one of the artworks for inspiration of a new poem.

Most of us had never met the members of the other group.  It was an exercise in creativity and a challenge of inspiration.

From the envelope randomly assigned to her, "Tree of One" was chosen by Lisa Vihos to inspire her poem of the same name.

"Tree of One"  (acrylic on canvas, 12"x24") 2013

By chance, this was a perfect match in that the envelope I received contained three poems by Lisa Vihos.  I chose her poem entitled "Catching Poems" to create "Flights of Fancy Wisdom of Words" seen below.

"Flights of Fancy Wisdom of Words" (mixed media on canvas, 20"x24") March 2014

For some, the experience was quite the challenge.  Others found immediate inspiration to create a corresponding piece.  The end result is quite an exceptional side-by-side exhibit of poetry and art which opens with a Final Friday reception on Friday, March 28, at EBCO in Sheboygan.  The event will include a reading of the new poetry by members of the Mead Library Poetry Circle.    -Erico