Julie Zarrow Erickson is a “2008 Art in the Round Contest” participant.
Beaded rocks and coconut shells by Julie Zarrow Erickson (copyright Julie Zarrow Erickson)
Artist’s Statement: Creating art literally flew into my life on the wings of spiritual awakening. This essential experience, occuring on my 38th birthday, involved the sky, the ocean, clouds, mountains and rocks. I believe the inspiration I get from these beautiful elements will keep me busy for the rest of my life. I know that I am an extremely lucky woman to have found creative ways to express my point of view.
While I am a painter, I also enjoy working 3-dimensionally with beads applied to and embellished with natural elements. I love rocks, first and foremost, but I also work with wood, coconut shells, bamboo, and other “findings” that wash up on the beach or that I discover when I am out walking my dogs. The beads help satisfy my need for “sparkle” while the natural elements appeal to my love of nature.
This is my first time to enter an art competition. It challenged me to create new work – in a very short period of time – that had to follow certain guidelines. I love the “vessel” theme and am pleased with what I came up with.
Artistic Resume: I played the cello from age 8-17 and believed that music was my principle talent. I participated in numerous competitions and, at 15, I played in the Southern California Youth Symphony Orchestra. But ultimately, music wasn’t for me.
Fast forward to 2001. I began painting lessons with Martin Pollock, an excellent teacher. In the summer of 2004 I had my first exhibition at the Jonathan Club of Los Angeles, titled “Basic Elements Series”. In the fall of 2005, my work was exhibited at the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Hollywood, in a show titled “A Creative Spirit”. Summer 2007, I was part of a group exhibit at the finegood Gallery in Los Angeles in a show titled “East meets West.”
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I love Julie Zarrow Erickson art so much i think it is exquisit it makes eyes sparkle.
Ms. Erickson’s art displays an understanding of the sound and light of objects that are otherwise quiet and still. She embues stone with life and restores the coconut shells to a joyous sense of readiness to bring forth new feasts for the soul. In visiting her web site I find similar love of life, stillness and movement in her paintings. She is an artist of multiple talents.
Ms. Zarrow Erickson’s work seems to combine the spirituality of the natural world and the ephemeralness of sparkling surfaces. I love the objects she has found to inspire her — the whimsical coconut shells and the massive concave stone. Her art is simple yet incredibly complex. Gorgeous!
these are the best piecest of art i have ever seen
Having had the opportunity to see many of Ms. Erickson’s work, I am struck at her ability to take pieces with their own natural beauty and enhance them. They are truly beautiful!