GEORGE ERWIN – The Visionary Artist

“My teaching vision is to encourage artists to imagine countless accessible choices in creating for eyes rest and reflection, and have a passion in bringing a palette to life while making art works fun and easy.”

George M. Erwin loved to draw as a child and has lived in Northeast Ohio all of his life.  At the age of 12, he won his first art contest from the local newspaper with a pencil drawing of the American Indian. In high school he won a key in a regional competition in Akron with a copper tin abstract.  After graduation from Norton High School, his art teacher encouraged him to accept a scholarship to the Cooper Institute of Art in Cleveland. In 1989, George graduated from The University of Akron, and retired from the Babcock & Wilcox Company in Barberton, Ohio in 1995 after 31 years.

For over 20 years, he make sketches of parts which did not conform to the design of the products. Back then, he did not realize that this would help him in his current artwork profession, because being an artist was not in his plans or was his ambition in life.

The turning point in January 2011 came when George took a short mission trip to the Dominican Republic and helped rebuild a village destroyed by a hurricane. That trip changed his view about life, and his purpose in achieving some objectives set before him.  In June with a retina detachment eye surgery, he started to see… differently.  In January 2012 still healing from the surgical procedures, he began a renewed passion in the Fine Arts by sketching a Red Cardinal. Two years later in 2014, he started his business, and became a working artist in his Divine Expressions Studio in New Franklin, Ohio.

George’s first teaching certificate was garnered in English as a Second Language Teacher Training (ESL) through the Mission to North America MNA on January 17-18, 2014.  In April 2014, George received his second teaching certificate and was garnered through the Wilson Bickford Trained Teacher (WBTT).  George has personally taken workshops with Bill “Ridley” Bayer, Sandy McTier, and Robert Warren.  He teaches workshops at the Barberton Gallery of Fine Arts, and The Art Center on Tuscarawas (ACoT).  He also teaches ESL Art classes using Wilson Bickford’s “Fast and Fun” painting methods at CrossPoint Alliance Church in Copley, Ohio. He has taught art to internationals coming from Japan, China, Germany, South Korea, India, Mexico and Taiwan. Oils and acrylics are George’s personal mediums of choice. His subject matter encompasses landscapes, wildlife, floral compositions, still life, and just about anything of particular interest including abstractions.

At the 2014 Land of Cleve Awards on December 27, George was among the Barberton Gallery of Fine Arts recipients for the Collective Top Artists Award.

George’s clients, fellow artists, and friends share insights on his style and his uniqueness about his art-works.

Chris…  “It’s hard for me to describe your style of painting…  I look at the picture I have and think you have captured a beautiful, peaceful moment forever… The sky is especially beautiful to me.  It’s never the same and even if there are no clouds the color is beautiful.  I have many photos of the sky, but you can’t really capture the true beauty your eyes see.  Perhaps you manage to do that with your paintings.”

Michaela… “Free style with the unique capability to bring a palette to life with a handful of brushes and tools. I like your paintings because it is a simple expression of what you see, feel and finally paint… No long laboring over something for weeks while your mood may change 20 times.”

Marcus…. “You don’t just make art look possible, you make it look easy.”

Jean….. “I find that your art pulls me into the painting. I am fascinated with the detail, light and shadows. It is a joy to see you take a canvas and create like you do, it amazes me. Your work comes to life – I feel as if I could step into any of the scenes that I have seen and am in a peaceful place.”

Jen… “George, what I love about your work, especially the nature ones is that the combination of your brushwork, your focal points, and use of color create a calming, peaceful world for the eyes to take respite.  You do beautiful work and can’t wait to see more.”

Ester… “George – Your picture is amazing…. Absolutely love it!  It’s hard to explain, but even just seeing it on FB I could feel that piercing cold air and the crunch of the snow. It had a very nostalgic feel for me. That’s good art that brings someone into scene!  Great job!  I really am impressed! Your fan.”

Barbara.. “When you feel as though you could “step inside” the scene in a painting, you have accomplished an excellent painting – this reminds me of walking on a quiet, still night in our back yard near the pasture – I can almost “feel” the snowflakes gently falling! Thank you for sharing your talent with us !!”

“Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the various elements at the painter’s disposal for the expression of his feelings.” (Henri Matisse) “The language of Fine Art transcends into our world, and can break thought any cultural barrier and bring us closer together.”  “I believe the goal in Fine Art work can impart an energetic love with a reverent appreciation for each other and for the Creator God.” (George Erwin) George’s vision can be clearly recognized in his enjoyment in developing his new teaching techniques for his English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons using Art, as the primary medium.