Erin Gergen Halls

Mankato, Minnesota, United States

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Two of my greatest loves are drawing and realism. While I will always be faithful to graphite, colored pencils have allowed me to indulge in both of those loves. I find the medium rich with challenge, thrilling, and an exhilarating way to express myself. As a newer fine art medium, I am unable to emulate or study the techniques of Old Masters. That must be learned through trial and error. Realism with colored pencil requires strong draftsmanship skills, confidence in problem solving and a love for detail. My creative process begins with a story I want to tell, through a collection of symbolic elements. I gather and arrange objects for my still life compositions based on what they add to the narration. I work from the actual set up and from reference photos taken of it. This stage, and the initial pencil drawing, take the longest and are often the most challenging. Adding color, I work from the darkest areas to the lightest, saving the whites for last. This stage flows quickly, gaining momentum, and the excitement builds with each completed area, until I can hardly wait to see the finished piece! Immediately upon completion I am inspired by the next story; imagining the next drawing; planning the next composition; ready to feel that adrenaline rush! My intentions are to present a visual to go with the narrative in my head, informed by many things, including aesthetic preferences, nostalgic pleasures, and/or historical prejudices. Also, I want to expose the viewer to colored pencil and to instill a respect and appreciation for it as a true fine art medium.

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