I wanted to share with you all an artist whose prints have made my kids’ bedroom more of a beautiful, awe-inspiring place, whose cards have been sent to friends who’ve helped me through the most profound times in life, and whose calendar has made my dull kitchen cabinet truly stellar. You may not be able to be in nature very often as a NYC parent, but these images will take you all there in spirit. Now, I am sending her magical work your way! Erika Vala has long been a tastemaker in Brooklyn, as co-owner of the former Mini Mini Market and of the currently uber-popular Shoe Market in Williamsburg. Below is an interview with her about her artistic process as a painter, links to her work, and how to order it.
“Stay Awake With Me”
“Look Up”
“Reflect”
Tell us what your process is for choosing your colors…
I usually try to match the scene I am trying to paint, although lately I have been just going crazy with the skies- letting them really hold most of the colors within the whole piece. Once in a while, I will limit my palate to three colors that I know work well together; doing this can help tie together a painting visually, and keep me from getting too greedy with too many colors (resulting in a muddy mess or a confusing painting). Less is more, in most regards.
Do you sit out in nature to paint the scenes, or do you also make stuff up from your mind?
I have done both. Mostly, I take pictures of landscape situations that inspire me then later work them into a painting at home. Painting outside always sounds really fun and inspiring, but the outdoors can be a lot to contend with, especially with watercolors. You need fresh clean water constantly, and weather can be an issue. I am usually found in my apartment painting while streaming some melodrama on Netflix.
Where are most of your paintings’ locations? Do you have a favorite place you like to paint?
Over the past few years Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico have been a focus; I have been lucky enough to have opportunities to be out there under that big, dramatic sky. I am certainly not the first painter to find this part of the world especially inspiring, I think it has a lot do to with the landscape, the atmospheric elevation and the endless horizon that is reminiscent of the ocean. I also am inspired by Oregon (especially the forests). In reality, I find most natural landscapes to be filled with a beautiful and inspiring mystery that I attempt to capture.
How long does it take you to make a painting?
My best pieces have taken under two hours. Those are the moments artists live for- when the painting just flows out of you and you aren’t sure where it came from or how you did it. The rest of the time it’s a struggle; with the occasional bright spots of revisiting to discarded paintings and discovering their solution.
What are your influences?
“Halo”
“Little Dudes on a Hill”
“All Roads Lead”
“Purple Moon”
“Make a Deal with God”
Erika Vala can be contacted at vala.erika@gmail.com.
She sells original works, prints, cards, and calendars of her gorgeous landscapes.
Take a look at her instagram account!
Erika Vala is a a painter, curator and merchant of beautiful adornments. She was born in Oregon and now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Her current medium is watercolor and is influenced by the great watercolorists of the 18th and 19th century; Turner, Granet, Charles Burchfield, Homer and Thomas Moran. The mood and feelings evoked from the renderings of “classic” landscapes are her primary interest and focus.
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.