Studio Eriksdotter Blog

Friends Who Become Family

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:00:33 +0000

This year, I've known these two amazing women, sisters Linn and Sara, for 20 years. We met at 13 and have been close ever since.

The black and white photo was taken during a winterbreak when I was learning how photograph and develop film (hence the 'not in focus'). It was shot on the frozen lake outside of their home. Fastforward 13 years when the top photo was taken at Linn's wedding in 2009. I feel so honored to have these two in my life - and their parents and now their respective families. I wish I could visit them, and Sweden more often...

I'm blessed to have a few very close friends in Sweden. We stick together through thick and thin. Thank god for all the wonderful technology these days where we can stay updated on the daily stuff without being in the same city or even on the same continent. I love receiving texts from them, seeing fb posts and instagram images of their days and skyping when our schedules allows. Friends who understand you, at times better than you do youself, are key I feel for a happy and successful life.

*Top photo by the wonderful Marias of Sweden.

Photos from Cocktails and Canvases

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:00:10 +0000

Cheers to another successful and delicious Cocktails & Canvases! This fun group gathered at my home Saturday, ready and open for a creative time. We were swaying, and singing along to the music and chatting while making our masterpieces.

What a fun group! We're missing Angela here who painted a yellow lotus. Aren't they all such fun pieces?

Focused moments are mixed with laughter! I help when needed but honestly, even people who think they can't even draw stickfigures manages to come away with a fun experience and a lovely piece for their home.

Be sure to grab the last 3 seats for the May 4th event - or why not inquire about a private event?

ps. Sorry for the few posts lately, I'm working on launching several projects.

Things are brewing

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:57:22 +0000

Here's a little sneak peak of what has been brewing over the last several months! A brand new website! I'm so excited to show you but we've still got a ways to go. We'll celebrate together in a few weeks :)

My apologies for the lack of updates this week but I've been very busy creating new marketing materials and working on my NEW NOTECARDS! Coming soon!

lots of love,

The Making of Hank's Portrait

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:00:57 +0000

I've been hard at work creating pieces for the Spring Art Auction 2013 and haven't worked on a pet portrait in a month or so, so I figured we'd take a look back at how Hank's pet portrait was created. :)

I finished Hank sometime in early Fall I think and this one, like many other pet portraits (or paintings in general) didn't start pretty. After the rough sketch, it was time to filling in some blocks. It helps sorting out what color goes where if I start adding one color first. Then I could see where the darker shades, and shading would go.

It's takes until I'm adding the details that the dog looks somewhat of a dog, but the groundwork sets it all up so you can never underestimate any portion in the process. I have to admit, it's always nice when the first layer or two are finished. It's like a hump you have to get over and then the more fun parts starts - at least for me the fun is in the details.

My usual workstation! My easel is always next to my desk, and both are close to my window so I can take advantage of as much day light as possible (if i'm working during the day). I spend so much time alone in my studio, and I LOVE silence, but often I find myself with a show to keep me company. You know I often have Downton Abbey on but recently it's been many different shows, before out of Sweden and the UK. Shows serve a little bit as a timer for me. When an hour is over, I know it's time to probably move a little...grab a snack or something. I often get lost in the painting and forget how demanding it is on my body to sit in one position for so long.

And here's the finished piece! Adding the details is the most time consuming part of the process... and I love details. I've painted my whole life and I'm a faster painter because of that but you can't stress details, and all my clients deserves the best of me and my brush. I could easily paint a less detailed version but I appreciate when the bouquet or the pet almost comes alive on the canvas. Pet portraits comes in many styles these days and I admire many of the artists working on them but I know this is the way I want my pieces to be represented - alive and realistic.

This piece received raving reviews by the wife and the husband who received it as a birthday gift. It made me almost cry just hearing how emotional he had been. He even had to leave the room to gather himself. Hank was a rescue dog that his wife had taken home after volunteering at a shelter one day. Her husband wasn't sure how to be around a dog or even how to talk to him, but they quickly became best friends - his wife jokingly said the dog was his biggest love and she, her husband's second. Hank passed away not too long before this painting was created.

I'm so grateful for what I do.

Original Painting: Lara's Orchid

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:00:30 +0000

It's stunning. I love it! Thank you so much - L. W. of New Zealand

I've totally forgotten to do a blog post about this original piece, and it's been months since it was finished and arrived in the home of Lara in New Zealand.

Lara reached out to me in the beginning of 2012 and she shared she was getting married (on Hawaii!) and had fallen in love with my bridal bouquet paintings. When I reached out to her shortly ahead of the wedding, she told me that it had been cancelled (I always admire people who dare to cancel their weddings. It's a big deal and takes a lot of guts.) but fortunately for me as I was so excited to have an original piece in New Zealand she still wanted to painting!

Lara requested a flower painting, and preferably a white orchid as that's her favorite flower. It happens to be mine as well (I have about 10 plants in the house and it seems to be the only plant I can keep alive as they are mostly ignored, poor things).

I worked off of a few photos I had recently taken of my sister's huge orchid and got to work. She left the motive and the background color up to me - "anything you think would like good will be great." The piece is a a closeup view of a blooming white orchid on a blend of dark and light tones of sand color white and burnt amber.

I was aiming for a very serene look with this piece. I wanted to create a strong statement in the sense of a warm embrace instead of bold colors. I drew upon the Scandinavian "beauty in simplicity" and wanted this to be a calming piece for my client.

Lara's Orchid measures 18 x 24 inches and is painted on a 1.5 inches deep gallery wrapped canvas. The background spreads onto all sides. It arrived safely on the other side of the world in late December last year and she was thrilled: "It's stunning. I love it! Thank you so much"

I personally love this piece, and I decided to offer it also as a limited edition and print. I have a love for orchids and the simplicity of this piece. I see a flower with effortless beauty. A proud orchid.

Above is the framed limited edition of Lara's Orchid, available in 100 editions only. The print measures 16 x21 inches and is printed on archival fine art paper. The print arrives unframed but the option of having it framed through my framer is available - pick up in studio only. The print is numbered, titled and signed at the bottom of the image with room left for matting.

Hope you enjoy this piece as much as I do!

Cocktails & Canvases - May 4

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:00:27 +0000

April 6 is sold out so we're making May 4th available for bookings! Grab a seat while you can!

Do you have a gang of 6 fun girls who'd like a private event? Maybe a birthday or bachelorette party? Or just a fun activity? Email me and let's schedule a Saturday!

xo,
Erica

Summer Art Auction Wrap Up

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:46 +0000

Since the art auction is getting closer I figured we could look back at the paintings from the last one. You've seen many of them over the last year what turned out to be prints and larger original paintings, which later turned into limited editions. But this is how they got started. All were sold during the art auction.

Don't forget to join in on the fun in April! Stay tuned for dates!

Sweet Delicate Hydrangea, 10x10 inches. Available in print.

I love Pretty Birdy on a Wire (10x10 inches), so much so I ended up making a much larger piece of this painting named Mr Purple. It has a lot more details and is the base for the limited edition, Mr Purple. This painting above is what makes the open ended print size 8x8.

Pink Calla on Orange, 8x10 inches. Available in print.

Roses a la Shabby Chic was hard to paint! I'm such a detailed person and I'm so proud of this piece. It came out just how I wanted. The original was 8x10 inches and is available in print.

I love how the rose peaks out from the corner in this original painting. Sun-Drenched Rose is available as a 8x8 ins print.

A deep dive into a pink rose! Pink Sweetheart Rose is available in print.

Another favorite! I'm loving the birds man. My Friend, Mr Green is available in print, and I couldn't resist making this a larger original painting. Mr. Green (without "my friend") is a 24x24 inches original piece which goes supernice with Mr Purple. The limited edition Mr Green is based on the larger painting which has a lot more refined details.

Grazing Socks - my first horse! Casey and I visited his parents up in Pennsylvania when he took a photo of a horse we saw which later turned into this painting. Casey has such a great eye! This painting is available in print.

Another deep dive into a rose. Purple Sweetheart Rose and Pink Sweetheart Rose were roses Casey gave me on a special occasion (which one escapes me at the moment) and they were so gorgeous I couldn't help but paint them. This piece is available in prints.

Another one of Casey's photos that inspired a piece of art of mine. Chillin' and Chattin' is such a fun painting. I love this one. I've been meaning to make it a larger piece but just haven't gotten to it. This is available in print.

Now we're looking forward to April! Are you joining in on the fun? What are you hoping to see?

xo,

Erica

Weekend is Here

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:12:50 +0000

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Customer Photo - Sam Heart Sam

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:00:45 +0000

Awww I just die! SO absolutely adorable to see my painting being so proudly showcased by the real Sam. You may recall another recent pup showing off his portrait and I hope this is becoming a trend for the cute factor alone! Sam is now a larger pup than what he was in the photos I worked off when I did his portrait. He seems to approve, don't you think? It's hanging in the owners livingroom, right by the door so the last thing they see when they leave is his smiling face.

And apparently the happy faces are a family trait!

This is how excited John was when he received the pet portrait of Sam from his wife for Valentine's Day! Too cute!

See more photos of Sam's portrait and read the blog post.

Erica

Ps. I always ask permission before sharing customer photos.

Filling Up on Creative Juices

Erica {Studio Eriksdotter} — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 05:01:42 +0000

Once of the many perks to living outside of Washington D.C. is the access to all the amazing national museums. This time I took advantage of the free Director's Audio Tour with around 100 works of art with commentary which was very enjoyable. I'm going to try and do more of those tours this Spring.

What always amazes me with the National Gallery of Art is that the building itself is so beautiful. I often feel rejuvinated just from the architecture alone.

{image via nga.gov/kids/ginevra.htm}

But let's not be mistaken. Seeing one of the only Leonardo Da Vinci paintings in the U.S. isn't too shabby either. He was 22 when he painted this one. Can you believe only 19 paintings exist of his? Apparently he was too busy to sit by the easel. This is a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci. At some point the painting was cut in 1/3 and excluded what people think may be of her hands folded in her lap - which can be seen on a drawing that is currently housed in the Windsor Castle in the U.K.

Michaelangelo's David was on temporary display when I visited the gallery in February. It's on loan from the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence.

Michelangelo's colossal marble was executed from 1501-1504 and carved for Baccio Valori who was appointed governor of Florence in 1530. More about that interesting story here.

Some more of the interior. I love everything about this. It's not the first time I've written about my visits to this gallery (see here and here). It's a constant source of inspiration to me.

Erica