Erin Green studied art early in college, but changed focus to environmental policy, research and writing for her education and career. In recent years, and especially during the COVID slowdown, she returned to drawing and painting, and has learned watercolor techniques from local artists, including Stu Chait and Melissa Mihalyov at the Mill Art Center and Gallery. She is now working on a book of illustrated parables for adults.

Artist’s Statement:
William Blake wrote that you could see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower. I feel that can be true for almost anything you look at in the natural world. There is a beauty, power, order, rhythm, calmness, fragility and resilience in nature that comes across in almost everything you
look at, if you look close enough.

I’m interested in the symbolism of nature, from winged creatures to plants and trees, to the sea, moon and stars, and how the underlying meanings of these symbols (e.g. the tree of life) often transcend cultures and generations, connecting people rather than dividing us.

For most of my life I drew only in graphite pencil, as it was in black and white, and I could control and erase it (which may say more about me than I would care to admit). In the past few years, I’ve been working with walnut ink and watercolors and watercolor pencils, and have grown to love color and to learn to trust that the water will move the color where it is supposed to be, certainly better than I could on my own.

I’m very much still learning, and so grateful to Erika and Gallery Salon for this opportunity to share some of my work. I stumbled across this quote a couple of years ago, from Le Corbusier: “I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies.” I think that sums it up pretty well.