Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric White.
Hi Eric, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began early in my appreciation of art. I pursued picture-making through copying images from an abundant source of books and a large illustrated dictionary, as well as in classes with a variety of art teachers. Despite the early promise, I did not pursue a full-fledged curriculum in art until after studying at Haverford College (Philosophy major). In my senior year at Haverford, I became aware of an art school in Florence, Italy, called Charles Cecil Studios, through a former student of the Studios. I traveled to Florence to attend the school in 1994. Beginning with cast drawing and work from the nude in charcoal, I progressed until I was able to begin portraits and painting in a limited palette. I was selected as one of the scholarship student teachers for my second year at the school.
Upon returning to California in 1996, I volunteered some of my time with the California Art Club and studied briefly with its president, Peter Adams. I took up working for Morseburg Galleries in 1997 and broadened my knowledge of California and 19th-century art. I rededicated myself in 2007 to the pursuit of art from the figure model. My interest continued in the theory and practice of visual philosophy – revealing ideas with artistic visual images.
More recently around 2010, I began writing a short story entitled “Tendon.” It depicts the new friendship of a scientist/artist and a creature he discovers in the Limitlands outside of his colony in space. By 2022, I had concluded the approximately 10-page story – ten years in the making! I then created the illustrations. In this ten-year span I had also been writing poetry and making single-panel cartoons. At some point I even began sculpting after taking a great class at the ArtCenter here in Pasadena.
Working through different media towards artistic excellence is the Renaissance ideal. For many years now, I have been striving to create a legacy at least in the spirit of those artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. In 2024, I self-published a short book of landscape paintings entitled “Art Work of the San Gabriel Valley.” Finally, I was chosen in 2025 to be an artist member of the California Art Club, a 28-year endeavor!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of my challenges is procrastination. I often wait until the last minute to become “inspired.” This is a bad technique. My remedy for this approach is to weigh the discomfort that I would feel if I procrastinate versus the pleasure in doing good work ahead of schedule. Trying to work at least on one project a day is another way to avoid procrastination.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work includes:
fine art like painting, drawing, and sculpture
writing poems, essays, and short stories
cartoons
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has played a role in my evolution as an artist. Having perservered to be an artist member of my favorite local art club, the California Art Club (founded 1909), for 28 years finally led to my gaining the honor earlier this year. Beyond this accomplishment, I never realized until more recently the luck of having discovered the Charles Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy. I was able to study there my second year as a studio assistant, which enabled me to hear more from the director about my work, give me some limited teaching experience, and study tuition-free. This was another true honor in my life.
Pricing:
- smallest works (8″ x 10″) around $1000
- commission prices vary
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ericjwhite.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.joshua.white/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.white.90834
