A special spotlight on someone from the plein air painting community you may not know yet: Erin Spencer on her Aha moment, and more.
Art education: Although I never received a formal education in painting, I’ve always worked with my hands and pursued creative endeavors. And while I’ve learned a lot from direct observation of art, my greatest teacher has been nature herself. Time, passion, luck, and fortunate accidents have paved the road.
Painting style: For the most part, my painting style is impressionistic and tonal. Some of my smaller work is direct and observational, whereas my larger studio paintings are mainly indirect and rooted in memory. I feel that design leads the way in my work; subject matter and color are secondary.
Favorite subjects: I love clouds because they’re expressive and abstract, leaving room for artistic interpretation. When I first began painting, I wanted to paint clouds that moved beyond solid, floating bricks in the sky to clouds that felt like they were moving and full of light and energy. I’m still pursuing this goal, but my work has come a long way from the early days.
Aha moment: Once I realized there’s no such thing as a failed painting — just one that isn’t finished — the door was flung wide open. Of course, there will be paintings that fall flat, but a good idea shouldn’t be thrown out just because it isn’t “working” at first. I’ve learned to give a painting time to evolve. I scrape back and layer on, allowing the piece to take on new life, breathe, move, and eventually land where it should.
What I would do for a living if I wasn’t an artist: Back in college I was sure I’d be an archaeologist, toiling away the hours digging in the dirt and studying people from the objects and evidence they left behind. Actually, this still sounds appealing to me, but if I was looking for less adventure, perhaps I’d be a gardener or furniture builder.
Favorite artists: From art history, the Dutch Golden Age painters, especially Rembrandt and Hals; Vuillard and Degas; and French and Russian Impressionists like Levitan. Realizing that abstract marks have been a hallmark of mastery for generations, I’m more confident in my own mark-making. I also love many contemporary landscape artists, including Simon Addyman for his color blocking and surface texture, and Denys Gorodnichyi for his sense of place and rich colors, which make me feel like I’m in Ukraine.
The advice I wish I had received earlier in my painting career: Someone recently suggested that I let my paintings gather some dust before I declare them finished. Being inclined toward spontaneity and impulsivity, I still don’t do this well. But when I do permit my paintings to sit a while, I find ways to improve on them.
Website: erinspencerart.com
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