Connie Erickson

"This Painting of Mary O'Neal of Shreveport, Louisiana is the first in which I used Alchemist painting media. Following the directions and examples in the book: "Lost Secrets of Flemish Painting," I redrew my transferred drawing with the Painting & Grinding Medium.

Then I blocked the major colors and values of the composition using the Painting & Grinding Medium. Next, I modeled the forms using the Linseed Painting Medium Thin light over the areas where I would work on the decorative patterns on the background plate, the chaise, or the dress.

This procedure worked very well in helping facilitate adding the pattern that fused the modeled form underneath. I was able to lift and manipulate the pattern layer to correct it, which aided greatly in getting the result I wanted.

I am now on working on my third portrait using Alchemist Painting Media and am sold on their workability, quality, and permanence."

Connie Erickson

Biography

Connie Erickson, a new resident on Caddo Lake Uncertain, Texas, began her professional portrait painting career in 1987, after a period of extensive study with Daniel Greene and other well known artists: David Leffel, Gustav Rehberger, Harvey Dinnerstein. She has since continued her study with Richard Whiney, Matt Smith, Joseph McGurl, Scott Christensen, and others. She works in the classical realist style in oil and pastel and has exhibited in numerous juried exhibitions and solo shows and has received many awards for her portrait, still life, and landscape paintings.

Connie has taught at Watkins Institute College of Art, Cheekwood Fine Arts Center in Nashville, gives workshops, and teaches privately. She is a former President of the Nashville Artist Guild. She is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artist, the Portrait Society of America, the Atlanta Portrait Society, the Copley Society, and the American Society of Classical Realism. Her work includes academic, corporation, and private commissions. Some of note are: Six portraits of the founders of the Grand Old Opry installed at the Ryman Auditorium, five college presidents of local universities, and "Albert Schweitzer and Bach", reproductions of which are being used worldwide to promote "peace through reverence for life" Connie helped found and was elected first president of the Chestnut Group: Plein Aire Painters for the Land in Nashville Tennessee.

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Awards

• In 2000 she won the Juanita Greene Parks Memorial Award at the Central South Exhibitions at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
• She has had portraits in numerous exhibits and galleries in the mid-south region, and juried in two Pastel Society of America Exhibitions at the National Arts Club in New York.
• She was finalist in the American Magazine national contest in the portrait division in 1994, and won Honorable Mention in the American Society of Portrait Artists competition in 1996 in Montgomery, Alabama.
• In June 2000, she won Honorable Mention in the American Society of Portrait Artists Festival at the National Academy of Design and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She was also the only woman that year to receive an award at the Award Ceremony at the New York Athletic Club.
• In 2004, she won a Certificate of Merit with her portrait of Dylana in the Portrait Society of America Competition in Boston.
• July 9th, 2004: Connie's portrait of the President of the DAR: Linda Tinker Watkins of Tennessee was unveiled in Washington D.C