“ Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
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I'm Erin, a mixed-media artist residing in Arlington, Virginia.
As a child, I was drawn to all things creative, taking painting classes throughout high school and college. After college, I traded my paintbrushes for textbooks and pursued a career as a clinical psychologist — focusing on the "art" of psychotherapy.
In 2022, while signing my daughter up for a painting class, a quiet voice inside urged me to find one for myself. The very next day, I enrolled in an experimental painting course. The only rule was to play and explore — the perfect invitation back into creating!
While daunting at first, painting quickly became a powerful outlet for expression and balance, offsetting some of the emotional weight that can come with working in a helping profession. Hours would pass in a blink, and my childhood love for art was joyfully reignited. I haven’t looked back since and feel grateful to have a creative practice back in my life!
Thank you for being part of my artistic journey.
XO, Erin
My Process
I produce original, hand-crafted paintings on paper, canvas, and wood panels using a variety of materials, including acrylics, pastels, graphite, and collage elements.
My way of working is spontaneous, playful, and intuitive. Beginning with an idea of colors and shapes, I let intuition and emotions guide me through the process, and then refine my work using principles of value, design, and color.
I gravitate toward creating movement, layers, lines, and visual depth in my work. In many ways, my creative process mirrors the way I work every day in my psychotherapy practice: exploring the layered complexities of life, inviting emotion to be a guide, and remaining curious about what is seen and unseen.