Born in Alaska on Nov 6^th, 1981, Erika Jaynes spent her kindergarten years in California and grew up in Mesa Arizona. Erika spent a good deal of time escaping the chaotic  environment of her childhood through intensely imaginative games of Barbies in giant land, mermaids in the pools, and intense adventures in the surrounding neighborhoods. Being homeschooled until 15 provided the opportunity to really foster the imaginative side life. Constantly drawing and living inside imaginary worlds was an important survival tool. Starting college at an early age, Erikas real passion for the creative side of life emerged full force. Starting as a music major and eventually transferring to the fine arts department, she found a way for her hands to create and express the things living within.

Artist Statement

The majority of my art has weird surreal themes, often involving unnatural figures and strangely morphed animals.  Whether its drawing, ceramics, sculpture, painting, whatever medium Im working with, I tend to focus on compositions in which animal/human figures are prominent.  Much of my artwork has dark underlying themes, but with serene characters as the inhabitants.  This duality seems to balance the light and dark aspects of my life.

A lot of my works are cluttered and jumbled, full of images, chaotic, which i think reflects parts of my life.  When drawing and painting, I will often start out with a simple line and add to it until it becomes whatever my mind sees it as being.  With my 3-dimensional works in ceramics and sculpture, I focus mainly on figurative works as well; animal/human transformations, mythical beasts, and unnaturally formed creatures. I like to blend reality with my imagination, combining many different elements, fur with metal and wood, ink with acrylic paint and markers.  I also like to make jewelry! 

EVERYTHING inspires me!  That crack in the wall, the clouds in the sky, that girl over there with the unique face shape, the texture of the canvas, those colors together.  My native heritage as well as  mythology and stories in general. I am also a HUGE fan of comic books and graphic novels, fantasy art, horror movies, and surrealism, and I bring elements of these into my work as well.  I owe my introduction into art on music, as I was a music major when I first attended college, and still to this day it plays a large role in the creation of my art.

Some of my favorite artistic influences are; Luis Royo, Brom, Salvador Dali, Michael Turner, Wendy and Richard Pini, Kris Kuksi, Alphonse Mucha, Hiroaki Samura, Bob Tyrell,  Michael Parkes, M.C. Escher, Sorayama, Edward Burne-Jones, H.R. Giger, and William Morris, among many MANY others (too many to list actually).

Resume

Education

* B.F.A. in Sculpture – Arizona State University, Herberger College of Fine Arts, 2004
* B.F.A. in Ceramics – Arizona State University, Herberger College of Fine Arts, 2004
* B.F.A. in Drawing – Arizona State University, Herberger College of Fine Arts, 2004
* Associates in Arts – Mesa Community College, 1998
* Associates in General Studies – Mesa Community College, 1998

Exhibitions

Live Painting at Blunt Club going strong since 2008!!!

* Live Painting at Long Wongs – Tempe, AZ – November 13th, 2010
* Live Painting at “Most Animated” at Push Gallery – Phoenix, AZ – November 13th, 2010
* “Stop Abuse” Group Show  at ASU West – Phoenix, AZ – October 13th, 2010
* “Me + 1, And Then Some” Collaboration Group Show at Push Gallery – Phoenix, AZ – October 15th, 2010
* Live Painting at “Push and Moan” at Lost Leaf – Phoenix, AZ, September 3rd, 2010
* Painted Live/Booth at Warped Tour – San Diego, Pomona, Marysville, CA – August 2010
* Tempe Starving Artists Group Show – Those Apartments  – Tempe, AZ – July 2010
* “The Round Show” – Group Show at Push Gallery – Phoenix, AZ July 2010
* “Last Airbender Gallery Event” – Group Show at Think – Phoenix AZ – July 2nd, 2010
* “An EVEning: All Female Artists Show – Group Show at Think – Phoenix, AZ – May 7th, 2010
* Solo Show – UM Gallery – Phoenix, AZ – May 7th, 2010
* “Lamp Show” – Group Show at Push Gallery – Phoenix, AZ – May 2010
* “Furious Solstice” – Live Painting at Barsmith – Phoenix, AZ – April 17, 2010
* “Pinups and Ink” Group Show – Push Gallery – February 19th, 2010
* “Tempe Starving Artists 6-Month Anniversary Group Show – Tempe, AZ – February 2010
* Group Showings  – UM Gallery – Various months 2009-2010
* 2009 stuff coming as soon and i find it! The great search begins…
* “The Great Pancake Shakedown” – Push Gallery – October 2009
* “A Higher Place” – Euphoria – June 14th, 2008
* “Ladies Showcase” – The Loft – June 2008
* “Stereo” – Medizona – Scottsdale – Arizona – April 2008
* “Synthetic Compound – Custom Vinyl Show” – Phoenix, AZ – April 2008
* “Spring Fete des Artes” – Group Show – Scottsdale, Arizona – March 2008
* Paintings exhibited at Jerry’s Artarama – 2006 – current
* Collaborative paintings exhibited at 611 in Progress
* Exhibit of work at Art One Gallery – Scottsdale, Arizona Jan.05 – 2007
* “32 nd Annual Toys Designed by Artists” – Juried Group Show – Arkansas Art Center March 2005
* “Against The Grain” – Juried Group Wood Show – ASU Step Gallery, Nov. 2004
* Graduating Senior Exhibition Sculpture/Drawing – Group Show – Gallery 100, ASU, November 2004
* Graduating Senior Exhibition in Ceramics – Group Show – Gallery 100 – ASU, November 2004
* “Collective Inferno” – Group Show – Rezurrection Gallery, May 2004
* Group show at – Gallery 1023 – First Fridays, May 2004
* Group show at – The Trunk Space, First Fridays, Feb. 2004
* “Undergraduate Juried Exhibition” – ASU – Harry Wood, Dec. 2003
* “The Stubborn Light of Night” – Rezurrection Gallery, May 2003
* “Undergraduate Juried Exhibition” – ASU – Harry Wood, Dec. 2002
* “Art of the Community” – Juried Exhibition – Shemer Art Center, May 1998

Publications
* Tempe  Starving Artists Underground Entertainment Magazine – Issue #9 – May 2010
* Tempe  Starving Artists Underground Entertainment Magazine – Issue #7 – March 2010
* Album Artwork for J.me. J – Under Construction – Theoretic Records – June 2010
* Artists show “Their” Tempe at Hoodlums event – State Press online – March 3rd, 2009
* “Art of the Student Body” – State Press Magazine – August 27th, 2008
* “Buddha-licious?” – Azcentral.com – Jimmy Magahern – October 26th, 2007

Experience
* Live Painting at the Blunt Club 2008-current
* Assistant Manager/Buyer – Jerry’s Artarama Tempe, AZ
* Gallery Attendant/Security – Scottsdale Center for the Arts (SCA)/ Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMOCA) – 2001-03 7380 E. 2 nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ. Protecting art exhibits, and answering questions about the various art exhibits and shows at the SCA and SMOCA.