Artist Erik Linton
Congratulations to Erik Linton for earning his place a Winner in the Boynes Monthly Art Award [June Edition]!
Who are you?
I was born in 1984. Art was a passion from my earliest memories. There was no subject that I didn't attempt to put onto paper. Growing up on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah provided endless sources of inspiration and exploration. After receiving a master’s degree in public health, I began a career in the healthcare field. In 2013 I began a "side hustle" selling my artwork and by 2015 I was able to transition to being a full-time artist. Being a full time artist is a dream come true.
Erik currently lives in Cache Valley Utah with his wife and kids.
“The Young Reader”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
What inspired you to utilize painting as a medium?
I didn’t begin oil painting until the Covid epidemic. It was during that time that I began painting my children. It didn’t take long for me to realize this medium will be a lifelong passion.
“Untitled”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
How would you describe your work?
I would describe most of my artwork as having a traditional foundation, but with a focus on finding the beauty in the ordinary and often overlooked objects and moments. For me it’s a practice of finding wonder and awe. There is a word I like, “ostranenie”. It basically means presenting something ordinary in a new way with the purpose of enhancing our perception of that thing.
“Untitled”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?
This is a piece that is personal to me. This painting is of my youngest brother sitting in my own living room on a snowy winter night. This is one of many times we have stayed up late into the night talking about everything big and small. We come from a large family of 7 children. This sibling is 14 years younger than I am, so we are in very different places in our lives, so many of our conversations revolve around his own dreams for the future and his fears that he may be falling short. What I love about this moment is that it is a scene that has played out since the beginning of time; a restless young man driven to find a name for himself while also confronting the insecurities and fears that adulthood brings.
“Visitor on a Green Velvet Chair”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
This is a piece that is personal to me. This painting is of my youngest brother sitting in my own living room on a winter night. This is one of many times we have stayed up late into the night talking about everything big and small. We come from a large family of 7 children. This particular sibling is 14 years younger than I am so we are in very different places in our lives, so many of our conversations revolve around his own dreams for the future and his fears that he may be falling short. What I love about this moment is that it is a scene that has played out since the beginning of time; a young restless man driven to find a name for himself while also addressing the insecurities that adulthood brings.
Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?
With this particular painting I used a traditional oil painting approach; starting with a sketch in pencil to decide how the overall composition would be laid out. I also marked the basic facial features and proportions in pencil. The next step was a brunaille underpainting with burnt umber to determine the correct values. Finally, I applied opaque layers of paint starting with a mid-tone and working the values lighter and darker from there.
“Untitled”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?
I want the observer to feel like they are looking at a scene that is timeless. Like it could be a painting that was done 200 years ago, or just last night. I want the gaze of the sitter to give the impression that he is looking directly at them and as if engaging them in a tired conversation.
“Canyonlands Blue”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?
The biggest learning experience and trial in creating this piece is the interior space. I wanted it to feel like if you could pan to the right in the scene, you would see a fire in fireplace warming the room and casting a warm light. I wanted the background to draw little attention and have the floor and rug draw the eye from the foreground to the main subject. Looking at it now, here are things I would change if I did it again. I might have applied the dark wall in the background with less opaque paint and let some of the burnt umber from the underpainting come through in order to give it more of an interesting texture.
“Untitled”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?
The biggest success in my artistic journey was when I was able to make the transition from my healthcare career to a full-time artist. It was a terrifying decision because art never felt like a responsible way to make a living. But it has proven to be a good career both financially and in my personal fulfillment. I have to give a lot of credit to my wife who encouraged me to follow my dream as an artist and to leave my job in healthcare.
As far as how I achieved it, I would say a lot of it has to do with not being uninhibited by my own ignorance. Ignorance can be an asset because I think if we knew up front how much work it might take to do something, we would not start in the first place. I think you learn so much from the mistakes you make along the way. For me, selling art online has made it possible for me to do art full time. I take full advantage of marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and other curated online marketplaces. I also balance what I want to do with what people are willing to pay me for. Often times, the art that sell is not necessarily what I want to focus my time and energy on, however; in order to be able to be a full-time artist I have to understand and respect the demands of my customers.
Can you give us a piece of advice you wish you had known at the start of your career?
Although I have been creating art my entire life, oil paints were a medium that intimidated me. It seemed like there were so many tools, chemicals, brushes, mediums, solvents, and techniques that it felt overwhelming. I didn’t start using oils until the Covid 19 pandemic. As soon as I started painting, I realized that I had been missing out on a very satisfying and rewarding medium. I know I could be a much better painter now if I started years earlier when I had the first inclinations.
“Framed Wyoming Clouds”
Oil Painting
By Erik Linton
What projects are you working on currently?
I am currently working on some large-scale paintings that combine figures in a landscape. I am referencing artists from the French Naturalist Movement like Jules Bastien-Lepage. I’m also including some subtle symbolism in the paintings drawing from the philosophies of Nietzsche and Leo Tolstoy in reference to confronting and overcoming nihilism after deconstructing belief systems. The painting I’m working on at the moment is titled, “Throwing Flowers to the Abyss”. And is a gesture of giving thanks to the experiences that nearly destroy us but that we overcome.
“Untitled”
Drawing
By Erik Linton
What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?
A dream project of mine would be to do a solo exhibition in a renowned gallery. I haven’t made much of an effort to display my work through galleries, but I feel like it would be an important step in building legitimacy as an artist.
As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?
I think one of the best ways to improve as an artist is to embrace criticism. The art we create is personal and it can be scary to allow others to look at our work critically. My advice would be to look for any opportunity for critical feedback. The last thing you want to do as an artist is to just drink your own kool aid.
“Untitled”
Drawing
By Erik Linton
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?
Just put your work out there! I hate to when artists create great work, but feel intimidated to put their work out into the world through social media, competitions, galleries, etc. And if your work isn’t received well, be open to the possibility that you have room to improve. Artists tend to be people with sensitive feelings, but we also need to be brave enough to put ourselves out there to be judged and appreciated.
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