About Me
Artist Bio:
Hello! My name is Erin and I'm a portrait artist. I've tried to string a little comic relief
throughout my story with the photos and captions. Hopefully it will make you smile!
The human form and face has always fascinated me. Since I was a young child I have been drawing people. As a child, it was to design dresses or draw what I imagined the perfect woman would be like. What I wanted to be like.
In high school, I started to branch out. I started drawing men, and children, and just faces. Portraits became my new challenge and I worked diligently to increase my skill. In a few months, I had learned how to draw a relatively accurate representation, if not photorealistic.
However, I believed my calling to be music and so I pursued that goal in college at Union College in Barbourville, KY.
After a few months pursuing a degree in Vocal Music Education, my health started to decline. The course was simply too demanding for me. I had 10+ classes every semester - each with their own homework, tests, and finals - and most required some form of daily practice time! Even so, I kept at it.
After a year, however, the music program was cut from Union's Curriculum and shortly thereafter I found myself the only music major in the school. But not wanting to take "no" for an answer, I doggedly stayed the course for another year - until I was informed that Union could not certify me to teach, and my health collapsed altogether.
A few months later, I got married. I left Union shortly thereafter.
Okay, so I eloped. Still, my wedding outfit was $6 from the consignment shop. Can't beat that.
Unless yours was free. Free would definitely beat that.
After taking some time off from college to recover, I then pursued an associates degree in multimedia at ITT Technical Institute in Louisville, KY. I graduated in 2007 with honors.
However, I was not able to find suitable employment. My health had declined again and the job market for multimedia which was so promising at the start of my education had all but dried up. For several years I went from job to job, but I couldn't find one that suited my talents nor inclinations.
It took me five years, two colleges, three major illnesses, a truck load of ramen, and a
small fortune
to get a fancy piece of paper with my name on it. Now what?
Eventually I fell into a depression and despaired of ever being able to bring in some income for my family. But when my mom asked for a drawing of her grandchildren, I remembered I still had one skill that I could use to help support my family: art.
After that, I resumed drawing again. I practiced diligently to regain my old skills and quickly surpassed them. By the grace of God and hard work, I have found something I can do and do well. And as the Lord works I was soon blessed by another business opportunity. Now along with my portrait business, I am designing t-shirts for Jelaco Arts. I am so glad to be able to help provide for my family while doing something I love!
♥ I love my job! ♥
As it turns out, I will likely be attending college again this fall. I am going through Vocational Rehabilitation and they have agreed to help me to finish college. I am grateful for the opportunity and may the Lord help me to use it for good!
I hope you enjoy my art galleries, and may the Lord bless your life as He has blessed mine.