Erin Hardin

Unlike many painters, Erin didn’t always know that she wanted to be an artist. An only child, she grew up often playing alone and entertaining herself with stories, songs, and adventures (in which she was usually the heroine). As she grew, her interest turned outward to the complex emotions and interactions of the people around her. This fascination in the workings of the human mind led her eventually to pursue a masters in counseling, which led to work with children and adults on the autism spectrum (an experience to which she credits her eye for detail, inspired in part by her clients’ ability to notice and zero in on things that many people miss in everyday life). Considering a post graduate career change, Erin took an anatomy class and found that she was as fascinated with the intricacies of the human body as she was with the mind. Eventually, her constant absorption of the emotions of those around her coupled with a desire to distill and convey her observations led her to painting as an outlet. To paraphrase Robert Henri, “When someone has something to say and they don’t know how to say it, they learn to draw.” So, that’s what she did. In an effort to more effectively convey what she cannot quite say, Erin is constantly exploring new techniques and themes in her work. Subjects include anatomy and the body as a metaphor for the mind and emotions, human interactions, and quiet observations of everyday life. She also accepts commissions in several areas including portraits of people, pets, and sentimental objects such as heirlooms and old toys. Her work can be found at http://www.ErinHardinArt.com