Happy Birthday,

Yesterday I turned 44.  I have not been a fan of birthdays for a number of years and it was just three years ago that I really had a mental meltdown or turning point in my life.

Susan and Maggie where out of town visiting her mother and sister back in Cleveland so it was just me and Max left at home.  As a three year old he loves Birthdays, if he had not been here it could of and probably would have just been another day.

I have been introspective lately; I just revised my resume this week and spent time contemplating the last year.   To say the least I have been a bit pissy, I have completed a lot of work and have had success with my shows and even sold some work, yet I have not been satisfied.  My friend Carla would know that already, it’s my nature.  I like the work I have done and feel that I have developed my chops.  I can create what I want, yet what am I creating?  That is the question that has been bothering me.

I had lunch with Laurie and she was going to come by with her Eric and watch Max for me so I could go run my Thursday night meeting.  I used her coming over as my opportunity to have a birthday cake and party for Max’s enjoyment.  At breakfast he asks excitedly to confirm that today was my birthday.  Yes I replied, are you going to have a cake, he wondered?  Yes, I told him we would have cake.  He didn’t what to go to school as he thought he would be missing the cake, but I assured him that we would have the cake with Laurie when she came by.

After lunch I went to the book store to get a book for Max to give to me as a gift.  I was looking for an art history book that would provide more background on the California Impressionist movement, the painters and the inspirations.  What I found was the key to the door I have been trying to open.  The book that contained the key was not on the impressionist’s, but on Edward Hopper, forgotten but strong impressions of seeing his work, nighthawks in Chicago as a boy.  In this book “Silent Theater: The Art of Edward Hopper” by Walter Wells, I began to understand how to project what I have felt. Insight into his images provided the seed for me to nurture in the coming year.  I am refreshed and inspired.

For this is must thank my son, Max, for his gift.  For it was his inspiration and desire, that led me to find mine. 

eric

Want to do something?

1) What is it you want?

2) Dive In!

It seems to be the way I have always been, full submerged in what I do.

However today I am pleased with and proud of my work, yet I know that I have just taken the first small step of a long journey from the place as was two years ago.

Passion for what you do makes the effort effortless and the time just quickly rushes on.

My work is out in public, people have contacted me for work and the sales have started to come. This is a small but important affirmation that what I do is not just for me but can be enjoyed by others.

I am sure that I am not alone as an artist when I say that it is not the money offered by a client for your work that is rewarding, but the fact that they want something that I created because I thought it was beautiful.

eric

I have spent the last two months working on a new series that I am very happy with. I have left a stronger photographic reference to these works as an attempt to blend reality and perception. Please let me know what you think.

artist statement for
white line diary series

I believe that perception of an environment is related to a person’s own of level of satisfaction in relation as to what they want or expect of themselves.

With my white line diary series I am exploring the viewer’s inner feelings of their reality and expectations.

They are introspective pieces that don’t shout at you or force a view point.

The photograph of the road clearly places the viewer on their path, a reality chosen or not, everything lies ahead just out of view.

By manipulating the photograph with my painting, I have removed the photographic reality and opened the viewers to their subconscious interpretation the surroundings.

What may be a beautiful sky, with clouds kissed by the sun, to someone may be seen as the pending storm that another is rushing towards.

They can just be taken for what they are, simply a landscape with a road. However, if the viewer can acknowledge their own reactions, they may find out something about their own inner level of satisfaction with their life.

eric

I have recently had two pieces accepted into two different National Juried Competitions.

Painted Ponies is currently on display at “it’s Photography II” an exhibit with the Art League of Northern California, 500 Palm Dr Novato CA.

The opening was just this last Saturday and as my first competition and opening I was very please at being one of the forty selections. I received wonderful feed back and felt creatively charged.

This morning I opened my email to find that Muir Woods #4 Gnarled has been accepted for another exhibit from their National call.

“Abstractions, Color & Texture” was open to all media and will have an opening reception, Saturday February 24th, at the Aurora Colors Gallery in Petaluma Ca.

eric

In January I posted a new series I had worked on of a holiday dinner.

I have just reworked and added to the series after I had the worked critiqued.

I was pleased that the critic was able to see what I was trying to say and not just some pretty pictures of a family holiday.

To view the series open the individual pieces as they are not full size in the gallery view.

Thanks

eric

I have completed my first calendar year as a full time artist and just want to reflect back on that time and mark my progress.

In the last year I was able to find my expression, my voice, my way for me to achieve my goal of a life based on creating and experimentation.

With the help of many and one in particular I was able to focus my outlet, create my artistic statement, and begin to get my work out. For that I must say thank you to Cindy Pavlinac at AWD.

I have had my first sole show, my first piece accepted in a National juried show to be held next month, as well as the effort that has line up more opportunities for the coming year.

Thank you to all who have been so supportive this last year, as I mark this time memories of your encouragement are what give me strength and courage.

Thank you

eric

When I began my journey to find a creative outlet, I moved organically though a process of discovery.

What started as an interest in working with wood, led to an interest in making paper, which led to making my own lamps and shades. I found a new interest the first time I tried to Photograph my lamps and present them in an artistic way.

Some how this helped me find my muse, I found that I could take a view of any ordinary object and recreate the photograph artistically, create an image that had the ability to make you look twice. To find something within each normal object that was beautiful, to enhance it with light, color or texture.

I found that I could take the mundane and create art.

I create something new almost everyday and with each piece I lean to love more about every day.

My wife’s great-grandfather passed way two months ago at the age of 100 years. He lived in his home unassisted until a slip broke his hip and he felt that it was time to join his love, Lillian. This man I had known for the last twenty plus years will be remembered for his joy of life and living.

In my youth I was humored by his proclamation that: This was “The Best Day Ever”, or even “The Best Meal Ever”.

I was so busy in my life trying to make tomorrow a better day.

I am glad to say however that I did stop that, and had learned his lesson before he passed.

I had never heard any one say this as a child, but I know this could be the greatest lesson ever for children. Each night when I kiss my kids good night I thank them for the best day ever.

If I was still working to make tomorrow a better day I would not be able to see the beauty of today.

If I unsatisfied with the present, I could not create my art.

eric

any old day… my awakening

I once read a quote from a photographer in National Geographic; sorry I don’t recall his name, but to summarize he felt his work was to get the shot of some far off place or event and capture a moment the viewer would never be able to see…..

In the last year I have found things I had passed on any old day but had never really seen.

It was not that long ago that I got into my car and joined the thousands of people commuting into San Francisco every morning on the 101 across the Golden Gate Bridge.

I had become consumed by my work, the need to provide, and my self-importance.

I had no joy in my life.

Change doesn’t come easy and I had to come to grips with many issues, and reevaluation of what was important to me.

My children and my art have given me a new eye with which I can look at the simple events of every day life and enjoy the moment. I have stopped thinking about what sacrifice must be made to make tomorrow better and am just trying to make each day the best ever.

In my art I am trying to capture a moment that the viewer sees everyday but have been blind to its beauty. I had been blind to the everyday when I was always running about trying to get the next thing done, to acquire the next thing I needed.

Each of my pieces invites the viewer in, to stop and see the color or maybe feel something about the everyday that wasn’t there before.

eric