BIOGRAPHY
My name is Erika Stern.
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I was born and raised in Indiana, but now live in an antique farmhouse in Southeastern Massachusetts, with my husband of almost 30 years, 2 dogs, and chickens.
Our only child is a wildly creative young musician currently forging his way as a music producer.
I love Color and Pattern. I like most animals more than most people. I have been a vegan since 2012. I finally got a Mini Cooper a few years ago after coveting one forever and driving it is everything I dreamed it would be.
And that about covers that.
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I'm not one of those artists who can claim to have been born with a paintbrush in my hand. Although I was "artsy" growing up, I got my undergraduate degree in Biology and had all intentions of heading to veterinary school when a friend made a passing remark one day about how I really should be an Interior Designer.
On a whim (and this in itself explains a lot about my personality) I applied to RISD, was accepted, and got a second bachelor's degree, this time in Architecture. I then spent 30 years practicing architecture and kitchen design and no fine art whatsoever. I never felt much career satisfaction, and it always felt as though something was missing. It wasn't until I took a few light-hearted online art classes in 2012 (at the age of 53) that I realized I should have been painting my whole life and began painting "regularly", although consistency in the studio is still one of my struggles.
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I was given the glorious gift of early retirement in 2018, so theoretically I now have limitless days with which to paint...
and cook... and garden... and read...
please come in...
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Art2Life Juried International Exhibition, 2023
Featured Solo Artist in Living Crue magazine, Spring 2023
Duxbury Art Association Winter Juried Show, 2022
North River Festival of the Arts 2021, Juried Show (Carolyn B. Harvey Award for Creativity), Marshfield, MA 2021
North River Arts Members' Show (Award of Excellence), Marshfield, MA 2021
"Tipping Point", South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, MA. 2020
"The Colors of Happiness", Duxbury Art Association, Duxbury, MA 2020
Wicked Women Holiday Makers' Market Marshfield, MA 2019
Solo Exhibition - Ventress Gallery, Marshfield, MA 2018
North River Arts Members' Show (Award of Excellence), Marshfield, MA 2017
North River Arts Members' Show (Honorable Mention), Marshfield, MA 2016
BA Architecture Rhode Island School of Design, 1989
BA Human Biology Brown University, 1981