Fun facts:
Lives and works in West Palm Beach, FL with Husband, Small Human and cats Nihz/Romeo, Nemesis and new recruit Baby Mercutio (aka Doodlebug).
Grew up in Doylestown, PA. Attended Tyler School of Art/Temple University for a while, moved to Florida, did the dilletante thing with various jobs and college of varying levels of practicality.
Beyond painting and cats: Dungeons & Dragons, cooking and baking, chaos, general awkwardness, memes.
Will paint your cat.
The magic for me is in the portrayal of these dramatic emotions and moments on non-human faces…an opportunity to analyze my own humanity through the lens of an alien culture. I think we all feel a little not-quite-people from time to time and stepping away seems to help. Through portraiture I can both connect with others and distance myself from myself. Through painting the expressions on someone else, of a completely different species, I can learn about them myself.
Building a painting layer upon layer is where I find room and time for introspection. The initial layout drawing is where I get to know my subject, the contours of their face, what might be on their mind. The clear plexi goes on top and I block in the colors with a wash, then another layer, then flip it over. Color goes on both sides, with saturated reds and blues on the back giving volume to the forms on the proper side. With each flip of the plexi, new details and textures become apparent.
Memory Portraits
One of the most beloved memories I have of my mother was her ability to comfort the grieving through her portraiture. Her portraits were human, etched in stone, and mine are feline, painted on plastic, but I like knowing our hearts are in the same place. The Instagram Cat Community sponsors many memorial groups to help those who are missing their pets, and participating in these will always be a special way for me to remember my mom, whose life was taken way too soon.
Motherhood
This project began as The Sandwich Cats, paintings I did for my daughter each night on the next day's sandwich bag. After she outgrew that amusement, I realized the impact I could have on feline rescue and the connections. Having a purpose to my work beyond simply visual is vital.
HeARTs Speak artist member
HeARTs Speak is a 501c3 international nonprofit organization that’s uniting art and advocacy to increase the visibility of shelter animals. We’re dedicated to changing the way the world sees shelter animals through programs that leverage creativity and collaboration to ensure more animals are Seen and Saved.
Fundraising & Activism
Animal rescue is an integral part of and driving force behind my art. Sometimes this consists of awareness-building work - before and after portraits showing love's power to lift a being from suffering. Other times I fall in love with a face in my Instagram feed and donate towards a veterinary bill or supplies.
Goals are accomplished through the efforts of many. Individuals doing TNR, fosters, neighborhood feeders, veterinarians and organizations of all sizes and focuses - neonatal care to seniors, cats to farm animals - are all vital elements in caring for a growing population of cast off pets. It may not be huge, but I hope my small amount of advocacy and funds is improving a few lives out there.
Each year I produce a limited number of gift certificates for particularly beloved nonprofit animal rescues to use in their fundraising efforts, as well as original works when appropriate.
Organizations Served
Adopt-A-Cat Foundation, FL
Animal Friends Project, FL
C5 Community Cat Coalition
of Clark County, NV
Farm of the Free, GA
Queen's Royal Sanctuary, AZ
The Feisty Feline Animal Sanctuary, Canada
UC Green/Arbor & Art, PA
Winside Sanctuary for Wayward Cats, NB
Copyright © 2024 Erika Chapman Art - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.