Canadian-Born / Houston-Based Abstract Artist

I am an abstract mixed media artist based in Houston whose primary mediums are acrylic and watercolor. My work is characterized by the use of bright color palettes, geometric themes, collage elements, found objects, and texture built up by scraping through thick layers to reveal what is hidden beneath. Though abstract, there is a sense of order and structure evident. I explore the juxtaposition of the expected versus the unexpected by combining bold colors with non-traditional materials such as cardboard, thread, and scrap metal. Before my foray into art, I never gave much thought to that which society discards: the leftover packaging from an online shipment, the piece of rubber found on the train tracks, the shard of metal from a building site. Now, I look at my surroundings in a new light, my eyes constantly casting about for these treasures. My paintings invite viewers to take a closer look in order to appreciate the tactile components and hidden details, neither of which are immediately evident when each piece is viewed as a whole. I find inspiration in the industrial neighborhood in which I reside, as well as in the cultures, history, and cityscapes I have experienced in my travels.

I started drawing early in my youth after receiving a sketchbook and a set of charcoal pencils for Christmas one year. My interest was in portraiture, and I spent several years engaged in the practice whenever I found free time. Once I hit high school, however, my artistic endeavors fell by the wayside. I found my way back to art in late 2019, inspired by my surroundings as a resident of Arts District Houston. I am largely self-taught.

I began participating in the monthly Market at Sawyer Yards in Houston in November 2020, and in April 2021 I began participating in Houston’s First Saturday Arts Market. My work was displayed at Serenity Studios in Houston from March to June 2021, and from July 2021 through June 2022 I was a part of Art Machine Gallery. In July 2023 I was one of 43 artists chosen to participate in Archway Gallery’s 15th Annual Juried Exhibition and in April 2024 I was chosen to participate in Ardest Gallery’s β€œUpcycled” Juried Art Show. Other places I have shown my work include the Sugar Land Arts Fest, Bazaar on the Bayou, the BAM! Art Market, and as part of the β€œLove Story” exhibition in the Silos at Sawyer Yards. My work is currently on display at Les Scissors Hair Salon in Sugar Land, Texas.

Every piece I create holds a story or represents an emotion, and I would love to share that with you!

Follow My journey @erinstroudart