"Whacky Garden" 2021
Acrylic on panel, 14.5 x 11.5"

We often look at work like Erika Whitney’s and see raw emotion. We assume we are looking at pure intuition—visceral bodily responses.  Whitney doesn’t always know where she is headed when she starts a painting, but she often begins with a vision, and vision comes from a thoughtful place. This comes through in the work even when she gives herself over to process. It is emotion and logic sharing a plane.

When asked about her process Whitney explains that it can sometimes be a whirlwind and sometimes it can come from careful consideration.  “I look for a combination of controlled and uncontrolled, intentional and spontaneous.”