{Fine arts painter Erica Eriksdotter infront of her large Pure Sunlight painting}

Erica Eriksdotter was born and raised in Sweden and sold her first painting at the age of 10. She remembers getting her first easel at seven and finishing watercolor landscapes while on the phone with her girlfriends in her teens. "Painting has always been a part of my life. There was never a start or a beginning; it has just always been there." 

In 2000, at the age of 20, She moved to the U.S. to study communications and public relations at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. As she evolved as an artist, she started working predominantly in acrylics and have stayed with it. In the last few years, she has focused on bold and bright flowers and she loves highlighting a certain part of a flower or paint it from an unexpected perspective. She also specializes in bridal bouquet portraits, and does watercolor renderings for www.LiveLikeYou.com, an online shopping site.

There are many layers to each painting. She starts with a very thin and diluted layer of paint color and add many layers upon that until she's satisfied. The last step is to add all the details and make sure certain areas are highlighted more than others. To Erica, this is the most exciting part of painting!

Each painting is more than just paint on a canvas, it is a story and each layer forms that story for the viewer to enjoy.
 
Many things inspire her to be creative. Nature is a big one. English gardens, birds singing and being one with nature is a must. Traveling and experience different cultures is another, as well as beautiful architecture, museums, interior design, fashion, beautifully written words and stories, history, and of course, other creative people.

Growing up, she was inspired by her grandfather and his many talents (besides doing watercolors, he sang in choir, planted 800 flower bulbs each year in the garden and could do pretty much anything in wood work).  He gave her advice and tips and it is very much thanks to him that she began selling her art. Erica's mother is also an inspiration. She is a florist and all-around creative.

I hope to bring inspiration and happiness to people through my art and strive to make the viewer aware of and believe in the vibrancy of life. It's all about celebrating life with color and bringing joy to the room and the people enjoying it.

From spring through late fall, Erica participates in many art shows up and down the East Coast. She lives just outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband, a photographer and interactive media designer, and their two cats, Lola and Rasmus, who often joins her in the studio.