Erin K. Lenchner // USA
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Artist’s
Statement
It’s funny, I can remember being five years old wishing I
could draw naked ladies, but was afraid of getting in trouble. I liked being a
girl, but I wished I was a boy since then people would just think it was
natural. I even use to tell people my name is Robert. I know now that if I
wanted a boys name I could of used my own. Now twenty-four years later I can
draw naked ladies all I want and even use my own name.
Either through envy, sympathy, or empathy, I feel something
for the images I create. The inspiration for my work comes from two places,
real women, and women in the media. I am a huge people watcher. I record all
the different facial expressions and body language I see. I like to observe
from a distance in order to let the truth be a mystery, therefore; giving way
to made up stories about possible characters I see. I often like to sit alone
at coffee shops or bars and sketch. Images can also be appropriated from a
variety of media sources to provide a reference to a certain angle or
perspective when I go to recreate these characters.
I produce art compulsively. To a point, I categorize between
composition, color combination, new subjects, and reoccurring subjects.
However, mostly I react so quickly on feelings, I don't have time to correct
them. I need art. Channeling focus after the initial inspiration of emotions
fulfills my racing mind. Sometimes I try and block out everything, then let one
thing random float into my mind. I stare at the empty space below my hand and
try to feel that space for what should go there.
I am experienced in a variety of media, which I use either
separately or together. My dominant mediums are a combination of watercolor
paints and ink drawing, and oil paints as well. I am very meticulous about
making sure my work is archival. For my watercolors I use a thicker watercolor
paper and archival ink for permanence and vibrancy. If I want to mix mediums I
make sure that the order I use them in makes the most archival sense.
Bio
Originally self-taught, I began drawing before I can
remember.
I was born in 1979 in
Detroit,
Michigan,
where I currently reside.
By the end of
high school I decided to get formal training by going to art school.
I spent 10 years in various colleges and
universities taking every art class I could fit in.
Finally in 2008 I graduated from
Wayne
State
University with a BFA in
drawing.
Before graduating I began
selling my art on the Internet to people all over the world.
I also showed my work locally at galleries,
bars and coffee shops.
Since I’ve
graduated I’ve had several more shows and acquired studio space at the 555
Nonprofit Gallery and Studios in the city of
Detroit.
Education:
BFA, Drawing
& Painting –
Wayne
State
University
–
Detroit,
MI.
Photography
& Figure Drawing –
Oakland
Community College –
Royal Oak,
MI.
Drawing –
College for Creative Studies –
Detroit,
MI.
Grants
& Awards:
Ricki
Berlin Scholarship - Intermediate Ceramics –
Birmingham
Bloomfield
Art
Center,
Birmingham,
MI.
Figure Study
Grant – Facilitated a figure study workshop on Fridays –
Wayne
State
University,
Detroit,
MI.
Portfolio
Review Scholarship – towards tuition –
College
of
Creative Studies,
Detroit,
MI.
Scholastics
Scholarships - Image Transfer Workshop – U of M,
Ann Arbor,
MI.
Experience
– Art Related:
Urban Fine
Art Ebay Store.
Responsibilities
include: creation of all art objects and web mastering (using Adobe Photoshop
and Macromedia Dreamweaver software on OSX), managing finances, shipping,
creating and posting advertisements/e-commerce, email communications, keeping
documentation, and more.
Fine Arts
Teacher at
Highland Park
Career
Academy,
Highland Park,
MI.
Responsibilities
include: writing lesson plans, instruction and one on one help, participating
in all school activities and meetings, discipline, peer counseling, and
implementing technology in the classroom.
Saturday
School Art Teacher
at
Henry
Ford
Academy,
Highland Park,
MI
Responsibilities
include: writing lesson plans, instruction and one on one help with younger
students.
Graphic
Designer for D.T.S.G.,
Detroit,
MI.
Responsibilities
include: troubleshooting computer issues, graphic design on ads, typing
contracts, photography, and web design.
Teacher /
Facilitator for Abrakadoodle,
Detroit,
MI
Responsibilities
include: preparing lesson examples, introducing lesson, demonstrating lesson,
and helping the kids (3rd, 4th, and 5th grades) with their projects.
Exhibits:
Group Show, 555
Gallery,
Detroit,
MI
Solo Show, Element
Café,
Detroit,
MI
Solo Show, Xhedo’s
Café,
Ferndale,
MI
Group Show, Buzz
Gallery,
Royal Oak,
MI
Juried Show,
WSU,
Detroit,
MI
Local
Collections:
Corporate - Gentle
Dental Care -
Oak Park,
MI.
Corporate - Psychopharmacology
Associates, P.C. -
Birmingham,
MI.
Private - Dr.
Ronald Rosenberg MD.
-
Bloomfield,
MI.
Private - Belvin
Liles Jr., J.D., M.Ed. -
Detroit,
MI.
Private - Rochelle
& David Silverman -
West
Bloomfield,
MI.
