Art & Life with Eric Son

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Son.

Eric, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Sure.  I was born in South Korea.  As a child, I loved to read comic books and watch animation shows on TV.  This was probably my first exposure to any type of art.  When I was 8, my parents decided to move our family to Orange County, California.  Growing up, I immensely enjoyed drawing, whether it was doodling in class or at home.  My usual subject matters were spaceships, tanks, monsters, and dinosaurs that would end up in an all-out battle, the end result being one giant scribble.  Back then, I drew purely for fun, seeing where my imagination would take me, but never had I contemplated pursuing it as a career until I realized how miserable I was as a business major and decided to follow my passion.

I have taught a variety of art classes at the high school level for the past 12 years.  I can’t say it’s always been easy and rewarding.  In fact, there were many times where I’ve felt overworked and underappreciated.  However, it’s made me realize all the more that I need an outlet to express all the frustrations that come with life.  After moving to Los Angeles a few years ago, I felt a renewed sense of motivation and enthusiasm to pursue my art.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I consider myself a portrait painter and mix-media artist.  I believe that as an artist, it’s imperative to explore outside the comfort zone.   I welcome the unpredictable and happy accidents.  While I discover new ways to express myself, my goal is to inspire those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover the beauty, and to invoke emotion in unexpected places.

I love the challenge of creating something unique.  Inspiration can pop up anywhere and any place.  As much as I like to observe people and their expressions for portraits, I prefer not to confine myself to one subject or medium.  I seek to convince the viewer of how I interpret my subjects.  Reality is always subject to interpretation.  The realist painter conveys his or her own reality and hopes to engage the viewer in sharing the illusion.  I define my work as a balance between mastery of technique – an opinion to express and an emotional reaction.

What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Artists have always been at the forefront of national and local issues, whether it’s through advertisements or political cartoons.  They just now have a greater reach through the Internet and social media.  Personally, I see the news and do feel affected by it but haven’t used my art to express my standing in any particular issue.  However, one of the themes in my current body of work is an exploration of mental illness, which was inspired by my own personal experiences.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’ve participated in a few group exhibits the past couple years.  I hope to do a solo show in the Los Angeles area sometime in the near future.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artofericson.com
• Email: cire8888@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofericson/

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.