Erika Carter

Looking back on four decades of art making it is clear that time and space are the greatest influences on the ebb and flow of my work. Dream-like memories of childhood fueled the inspiration for the first two decades of learning and practicing to paint; Secret gardens full of flora and fauna, my grandparents cozy servants cottage on a grand estate, my mothers flare for interior design and all things beautiful, my father’s talents to make and build anything he desired, and six creative siblings that are rich with their own artful talents. 

The third decade of my career is heavily influenced by my travels to Central Mexico and my Mexican heritage on my mother’s side. My collection of Mexican Retablos and X-Votos (small devotional paintings on tin or wood) have and will always inspire the direction of my work. The simplicity of composition, vibrate color palate, and simple narratives found in these small works are the qualities and themes I strive to capture in my own work. While the spirit of Mexican culture can always be found within my paintings, the fourth decade of my career has taught me that the inspiration needed to create work is right where I stand. My studio sits on a 6000 sq/ft. lot, 1/4 house and 3/4 garden. The sweet garden at Green House Studios is lined with 100 year-old citrus trees and a giant Tipuana tree at its center. Beds of lavender and other indigenous flora attracts the birds, bees, bunnies, butterflies, and people of all ages from the neighboring coffee shop. A bountiful source of active inspiration has been afforded to me; my studio’s surroundings, coupled with the rich familial history of past inhabitants of this little house built in 1910, and their contributions to the neighborhood has grounded my work. My gratitude for this little corner in the world where I live and work gives me a strong sense of purpose to protect and paint where I stand...

“ I paint who I am and what I know”