Daily Inspiration: Meet Eric Stoner

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

Hi Eric, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’d say my immersion into the arts, started when I began my BFA at the Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD) back in 1994… graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1999. My work was primarily drawing and painting, until I moved to Seattle immediately upon graduation. The lack of a studio warm enough to allow my paintings to dry, made me switch gears completely and refocus all of my creative energy into music… which I had been playing actively since I was 12 years old. At this time I also began taking my photography very seriously, taking hundreds of editorial images of the music scene in Seattle. I also started dabbling in collage at this time, making DIY album covers, show flyers, and developing a “visual language” to correspond with friends back in California. I became obsessed with collaging, because of its ability to keep up with the pace of my imagination. I felt I had found a visual equivalent to musical improvisation.

I moved back to California in 2002, and with the confidence I had in my photography, began finding professional work in the creative community in Laguna Beach. Over the past 23 years, I’ve been making a living as a freelance photographer in the Arts and Industrial fields in Orange County and Los Angeles. I also taught Photography For Fine Artists at LCAD for 7 years from 2012- 2020. I recently started teaching collage at LCAD in 2023.

My return to California in 2002 began a non stop run to this day of creating highly developed collage and assemblage works. Being a professional fine art photographer has given me the financial freedom to not think about my studio art being a source of income. I’ve never sought gallery representation. Fortunately, my professional colleagues in the art world have always invited me to exhibit. Since the late 2000’s I’ve had multiple solo exhibitions, and have participated in several group shows. If not for these professional relationships my work likely would have gone unnoticed beyond my immediate friends and family. My art has always been a private pursuit that has become my form of creative meditation and visualization. Everything I’ve ever made references personal relationships or family history, so that’s the sphere it feels the most comfortable existing in to me.

As for the near future, I’m hoping to continue the roll I’ve been on in the creative community that I appreciate so much. My photography career is going strong, and I’m currently involved in multiple music projects ranging from Funk/Fusion, Country, Rock and Folk. My collage art is ever evolving, and is set for a new chapter of development… Strange New Worlds are on the horizon.

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?
My road has not always been a smooth one. Fortunately, I’ve learned that even during the most difficult chapters, there’s always radical growth happening, and opportunity for positive change.

My art has been directly inspired by these life cycles, which has been instrumental in navigating them. You wouldn’t be able to tell by a casual viewing, but my art directly examines some of the darkest periods of my life. Some themes I’ve addressed have been depression, divorce, failed friendships and romantic relationships, family trauma, a nervous breakdown, near death experiences, the horrors of my mothers dementia, and mortality in general. I could say I became my own art therapist, and found a way to literally create something beautiful out of all the upheaval.

I will say, that having a healthy sense of humor and being able to laugh at yourself is helpful when dealing with life when things get difficult. My collage work always has a streak of absurdity running through it no matter how heavy the topic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For the past 15 years I’ve specialized in “Documenting the Arts”. I also work in very different world where I bring a creative eye and unique editorial perspectives to the industrial, aerospace worlds. I’d say I’m known for taking pictures that are very immersive for the viewer. I always want to reveal the beauty, depth and complexity of whatever subject is in front of me. I love making my clients happy, luckily, I do that by making the job interesting for myself as a photographer and artist first and foremost.

When I’m doing more static work like photographing art, or aerospace technology, I have an obsessive compulsive drive for perfection. I’ve photographed thousands of pieces of work for publication and archiving, and I keep getting called back by my clients, so I must be doing something right.

I think that I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve actually made a career out of something I truly love, and that I can put all my creativity and artistic sensibilities into. I’ve often been told that I “over deliver” since a lot of my images will never be seen that aren’t chosen for publication… especially the editorial work. But if somewhere down the road someone opens up a photographic archive and does a deep dive, they’ll find a rich document of the entire culture of their organization. Maybe that’s what sets me apart… the fact that I just happen to love taking pictures whether or not they’ll ever be seen.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The first thing that comes to mind, is to embrace the fact that the only thing certain in life is change. If you can make peace with that and leave yourself open to it rather than resisting it, it can help to transform crisis into opportunity. In these times, I’ve always left a lot of space to simply imagine the possibilities that could change life for the better and be excited about it rather than fearful.

The most significant interactions, and experiences that have ever happened to me both personally and professionally have come entirely out of left field… complete coincidences that I could have never planned, mostly at points I would have considered “rock bottom”. Learn to enjoy the ride… even the terrifying parts. Fear and excitement come from the same place in the brain, so lean towards excitement and the positive.

One more thing I feel is important, is to always have something that you LOVE to do that brings true fulfillment into your life that isn’t bound to a career or making money. A passion project that can be easily modified to adapt to life circumstances during times of change will always make the hard times easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: ericstonermixedmedia.com / availablelight1.com (Art Photography) creativeindustrialphoto.com (industrial photography)
• Instagram: @availablelight1

Image Credits
All image credit goes to me. ERIC STONER