Finding poetry in the landscape is how Erin Spencer portrays her work as she connects with nature. Born in Northern California, the second of seven children, Erin moved to Maryland as a toddler. She showed an early interest in writing, dancing and archeology and would later study archeology and history at Brigham Young University in Utah. Her father, Boyd, was a chemistry professor, as well as a pianist and composer, and her mother Janine, a teacher who encouraged all her children to be creative. In her 20’s, Erin spent 18 months in The Netherlands as a church missionary, where she took photographs, which provided her with the inspiration for her early paintings. After returning to the US, Erin married her husband, Peter, and in 2008 the couple moved to Rhode Island where they have raised three children. Faith and family are the most important aspects of Erin’s life — she reads her scriptures daily and spends time each day at the easel. Her inspiration for her landscapes comes from California to New England via Europe and she captures her scenes in plein air or in the studio. “I think what’s so exciting about the art, what I produce but also art that I get to see from others, not just paintings but anything that people create, it’s an exciting thing to see.” Erin also spends time studying art and teaching workshops. Her paintings are included in private collections across the United States and around the world including Canada, Europe, Israel, Australia, and Japan. She says: “My personal process begins with observation and study of the natural world in all its splendid variation. Whether working from life or from sketches back in my studio, my paintings become translations of what I perceive. The beauty of this is that I will always have work to do, poems to create from my personal impressions of the world.”

Erin’s favorite female artists:
Maria Josenhans
Mary Tonkin
Laura Rios
Bethann Moran-Handzlik
Sarah Manolescue
Jennifer Moses

Erin’s playlist:
“It varies. Sometimes it's a podcast (often an art podcast or This American Life). I often listen to music. Currently I'm playing Johnny Flynn, Gregory Alan Isakov, Kishi Bashi, and Dar Williams. It changes, but music is a huge part of my practice.”

https://www.erinspencerart.com/
Instagram: @erinspencerart

Host: Chris Stafford
@theaartpodcast
Email: hollowellstudios@gmail.com