Eric Erickson: PAINTINGS

ARTISTS STATEMENT

Most of these paintings are from a series entitled Diagrams, which was partly inspired a couple of years ago as I was trying to decipher an assembly diagram for some piece of equipment that seemed to be lacking some essential information: the visuals did not always match up to the written instructions.

Among other confusing details, one was that 5 table legs were provided, where one may reasonably expect to find 4. Further, some of the instructions labelled as ‘ Important’ referred to photos that were very murky due to their method of reproduction.

This lead me to think of imaginary diagrams that are free from any obvious utilitarian function.

Another inspiration has been Phillip Guston’s “late” paintings from ca 1970’s – 1980’s.

My process involves many revisions. Things are painted out and back in again; sometimes are abandoned and then revisited, leaving the ghosts of the past.