ERINN SCHULTZ
Master painter and soulful reflector, Erinn's work embraces elements of the natural world. Her art is a reflection of the beauty that surrounds her. Read more about Erinn in our interview below.
Where do you find inspiration?
I am most inspired by time in nature. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1) Whether it’s the shifting shapes of clouds, the colors of a sunrise, or the shape and form of flower, all these fill me with joy, which fuels my work.
Who are artists you admire and why?
There are several artists who have been highly influential in my artistic journey. First is my grandmother, Isabel. I used to love exploring her studio, examining all the dried flowers, animal bones and interesting materials. She taught me to be curious about the world around me. From Mark Rothko I learned how art is not something merely to look at, but to experience. His dynamic color field paintings create a sense of presence, something I strive to create with my work. J.M Turner’s romantic landscapes capture me with their sweeping beauty and form. Lastly, from artist Makoto Fujimura, I learned that art can be a tool to not only transform society, but to worship God.
How has your style changed over time?
During the first two years of art school, I was confined to mostly figure and still life studies. Although I learned valuable foundational skills, I was more interested in the emotional and expressive nature of art, so I turned to abstraction. My earliest pieces were primarily abstract landscapes, which later became to completely nonobjective color fields. I primarily worked in this style for almost 20 years. Just over two years ago, I became increasingly frustrated with working abstractly. As a simple exercise, I decided to paint from a photograph I took of a late summer field. I found myself absorbed in the colors, shapes, and textures like never before. My breakthrough had come. Since then, I have continued to develop my technical skills in landscape and floral painting. Currently, I am working to find my happy medium between abstract and representational.
What subject or medium are you looking to explore more?
I would like to explore florals on a larger scale, and include more drawing into the final piece, to create a loose and flowy feel. As primarily an acrylic painter, I’d like to try adding texture and playing with combining watercolor elements with the acrylic.
See more of Erinn’s work