Erica Jackson
Erica Jackson is a painter born in Central Vermont. Her work primarily focuses on landscapes and architecture and the way people interact with them. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2006, and since then has been exhibiting her work in the United States. She is interested in creating evocative paintings that explore light, shadow, color, and dramatic compositions, which create an enigmatic mood for the viewer to enjoy. She is influenced by the Dutch masters, 19th-century American Impressionist painters, the Hudson Valley School, and Modern Regionalist painters.
Ms. Jackson has exhibited on the East Coast from Pennsylvania to Maryland, and in Chicago. Select group exhibitions in Philadelphia include the Dupree Gallery, the University of the Arts, and the Framers Workroom and Gallery. Her work has also been published in Clover & Bee Magazine and online at Exhibizone.
Artist Statement
My work explores the world around me and the many beautiful and eye-catching sights I see and am inspired by, including architecture, people, and nature. I try to highlight the special moments you can see when you’re taking your time to enjoy the scenery instead of hurrying past.
I’m inspired by architecture with unique colors and patterns, as well as the way colors and textures contrast and complement each other in nature. I’m also interested in how people interact with the world around them, so I often incorporate a person into the painting if it works for the scene. I use fluid acrylics on watercolor paper as my medium because I enjoy the way the paint builds up in gentle layers and how the colors can go from delicate to saturated depending on my intent with the piece.
My hope is that the viewer will enjoy the scenes I paint and will also be encouraged to spend some time looking at their surroundings and appreciating what is around them because there’s so much to see and admire.
Contact
www.erica-jackson.com
erica@erica-jackson.com
@erica_jackson_art
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
I have been focusing my art on landscapes for over 10 years now. I was initially inspired by a trip to Japan, where I was able to experience a culture and landscape vastly different from the one I lived in. I was struck by the juxtaposition of old versus new in architecture and lifestyle, and from that inspiration, I created a series of paintings inspired by that trip.
After I completed that series, I focused primarily on local landscapes. I live in the Philadelphia area, so I painted landscapes based in different neighborhoods around Philly. I’m inspired by architecture with unique colors and patterns, as well as the way colors and textures contrast and complement each other in nature. My work explores the world around me and the many beautiful and eye-catching sights I see and am inspired by, including architecture, people, and nature. I try to highlight the special moments you can see when you’re taking your time to enjoy the scenery instead of hurrying past.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
Through my work, I aim to convey a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. I hope viewers will be inspired to seek out and admire the beauty in their own surroundings. Through all these series, and as I move forward with my current works-in-progress, I continue to focus on landscapes. I am most inspired by color, texture, light, and darkness, and feel that whether it is a landscape in a remote area, like some of the ones in my Scotland series, or a cityscape that shows many different types of architecture and evidence of humans in those spaces, there are so many obviously beautiful scenes to paint. I really enjoy searching for the quiet moments that I wouldn’t have seen if I had just sped by without paying attention. Through my paintings, I want to pass that sense of wonder on to my viewers as well.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
One of the things that helps keep me focused is my love for detail. There are so many areas of a landscape that require my full attention, and they help me stay focused even if I am tired and don’t have much energy or time. You can accomplish a lot with just a little bit of time each day.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
I have to remind myself that nothing good comes easily. Even though creating a career from my paintings is difficult, I know that it has been done before, and I keep going, keep learning, and keep trying new things.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
Through my paintings, I aim to convey a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. I hope viewers will be inspired to seek out and admire the beauty in their own surroundings.
