Check Out Eryion Williams’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eryion Williams.

Hi Eryion, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At the end of 2018, I started painting as a way to cope with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. During that time, I experimented with acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, graphite, and gouache. Acrylic was the medium that stuck because of its quick drying time and painterly texture.
Fast forward to March 2020—when the world shut down—I decided to use that time to learn a different medium. I bought an iPad, an Apple Pencil, and enrolled in “YouTube University.” I loved digital work because I could bring my iPad anywhere, and there was no setup or cleanup, which saved me a lot of time as a college student whose small room had now become an art studio, classroom, and place of rest.
Though digital painting was more convenient, no matter how many pieces I created in Procreate, I couldn’t achieve the painterly look I had fallen in love with. After years of practice, I developed a digital technique that captured the texture I loved, and today I work primarily on my iPad, often adding acrylic brushstrokes when I create embellished canvas prints.
As I’ve grown, so has my art. What began as a way to cope with anxiety and depression taught me that those weren’t the only emotions I needed to navigate. Art has helped me process happiness, sadness, anxiety, depression, and everything in between. Now, at twenty-six, I’ve realized that life can be both beautiful and messy—and one does not negate the other. That balance is what I strive to depict in my art.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road of being an artist has come with its own challenges. Balancing school and two jobs made it difficult to find time to create, and my struggles with panic attacks and anxiety often left me unable to paint for days—or even weeks—at a time. Many nights, I’ve had to push through the exhaustion of my 9–5 just to paint or create content. Over the years, I’ve taken several breaks from my art to focus on school, even stepping away for a full year. But during that time, I realized something was missing. My creativity felt blocked and I felt unfulfilled without art in my life. That experience has led me to where I am today. Currently, I am taking time off school to create more intentionally, spend time with my loved ones, and grow my art shop.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist currently specializing in digital artwork created through Procreate. My work is often recognized for blending themes of mental health with garden imagery, which appears in nearly all of my paintings. Over the past seven years, I have grown not only in my technique but also in how I express myself through art. This journey has strengthened my ability to communicate visually and verbally, allowing me to be more vulnerable and to connect with others on a deeper level.
One of the things that sets me apart is my approach to digital art, where I mimic the texture and painterly style of acrylics. I also believe that every creative speaks their own unique language, and through that language, they can build communities with others who resonate with it. For me, garden illustrations and pastel color stories serve as a visual language to depict my mental health struggles, but also the faith and hope even through the dark times. Each piece becomes a time stamp of my life, allowing me to connect with those who may be experiencing a similar season. I also have a “Behind the Art” series on my Instagram that gives people a glimpse of my process of creating a piece and the “why” behind the artwork.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that Los Angeles is such a melting pot of cultures. Living here provides endless opportunities to experience different foods, traditions, and activities all within one city. Beyond this, the art scene in Los Angeles is incredible. It is home to creatives of every kind—content creators, visual artists, painters, actors, and more. This environment can be especially inspiring for those just starting out, as it shows that artistic success is truly possible.
What I like least, however, is the traffic. A ten-minute drive can quickly turn into forty, making even short trips stressful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.byartsijai.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsijai

Image Credits
Images were taken and edited by Jacob Alo of @aerial.mindset.media.