Bio

I've never known how to write my own biography.

A friend once suggested I get help from ChatGPT.

But I wince at every third-person artist mission (my own included!) because it feels empty and robotic, for other reasons. 

What I want is for you to feel alive, bon vivant even! No, I'm not French (even by ancestry), but thanks for asking.

I took some art classes in college, painting mostly. Enough to give me confidence in what I didn't know I wasn't doing. And then I spent almost a decade wishing I could find the time to make art, e.g. procrastinating.

We all require a catalyst to push us out of mediocrity, even if it looks very mediocre in the moment.

While going through some high-stress moments I finally took up drawing something every day. Just a habit to say I'd accomplished something.

Growing up, a handicapped Amish woman lived with my family; became part of our family. And I remember the dolls her younger sisters played with were always faceless. What the Amish women would say is they don't give them faces so the children will use their imagination instead.

That's what I wanted with my drawings. Fill in the blanks.

For several years I never really drew faces (the few I tried were aghast!). I think there's something really beautiful in, hopefully, giving you back your imagination through my own.

And with time I've grown. I use color and draw faces, and take risks. But I always start with my own emotion as the basis.

So much of my work is made of small pieces, no bigger than a postcard. Those will always be my favorites. 

Now, I live in Southern California and have the space to explore making bigger pieces again.

Captain Erica and her dog, Dora, a Chinese Crested.

Fun Facts

Some things about me you might find interesting:

  1. I grew up in Wisconsin 🧀
  2. I used to train horses professionally 🐴
  3. I wrote a book about training horses back in the day.
  4. I used to develop websites professionally.
  5. I once worked for an ice sculptor (neat!).
  6. I lived in a converted Ambulance for 5 years!
  7. I now live in a tiny home in the desert 😍 with my dog, Dora.
  8. I have an average typing speed of 97 WPM.
  9. I'm recovering from Breast Implant Illness (BII), and Mercury Poisoning.
  10. My day job is in the tech industry.
  11. I also try to write daily on my Substack: My Name is Erica

Social Media

Instagram -- YouTube -- Substack