Shari Erickson paints the landscape and nature of her beloved rainy, misty, mossy Pacific Northwest, primarily in acrylic and watercolor, both studio and en plein air. She lives in rural Oregon in the western Cascade foothills surrounded by forests and fields and lots of wildlife. Her inspiration is the Creation itself and her motivation is to share her God-given artistic gift with others in a way that is, hopefully, pleasing to our Lord. Her clients include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, The National Wildlife Federation, and The Audubon Society.
"I love birds. I just do. And moss. And water with it's endless possibilities. I also love the challenge of capturing the light and texture of our natural world in paint. I like my paintings to be first about the object they are depicting, and second, about the paint itself. I just adore that cadmium orange and cerulean blue combine to make the perfect warm gray for a mourning dove's feathers. I am very intrigued by the abstract qualities underlying the textures of real life, endless layers of interest.Though I have been inspired to paint subjects from all corners of the Earth, my greatest influence has always been the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It is my heart's desire that my art might encourage a closer look at the source of my inspiration - our incredible universe - which has been given to us to nurture and protect and sustain us as we enjoy our place within it."