Welcome, Erin Donahue Tice! Erin is the latest artist to join the Well + Wonder family and we are so thrilled to finally have her on our home team. Originally pursuing a career in corporate PR, Erin found herself stumbling into the world of art after the birth of her second son. Needing both a creative and therapeutic outlet away from the chaos of young children and new motherhood, Erin turned her hobby into a career. And we are so thankful she did! Drawing inspiration from beautiful interiors, she has always revered how a work of art can transform a space, Erin's multi-media abstract paintings are the perfect mix of contemporary and traditional, filled with bold colors, layers of texture, and the perfect new addition to our gallery walls. The Well + Wonder team was lucky enough to take a peek inside Erin's casita studio prior to her big debut. Her space is brimming with inspiration and creativity and had us buzzing with excitement to add her work to the collection. Jump on the Erin Tice bandwagon with us by reading her responses to our rapid-fire questions in our new artist interview Pardon Me, Erin Donahue Tice, then help us in welcoming Erin with her grand debut on our gallery walls tomorrow at 1pm EST. Cheers to you Erin, and welcome to the Well + Wonder team.
What is currently on your nightstand?
“Parenting with Love and Logic” – a friend recommended it to me, and it has so much sound advice on parenting children from a logical point of view. I’m not saying I’m always great at this! But I find that I go back to this book often when I’m struggling with different developmental stages.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
So many artists! But I think my favorite is Joan Mitchell. She was part of the abstract expressionist movement and her work is so wild and free, yet so layered and complicated. Her work has always really spoken to me.
Tell us about your childhood.
What is the most memorable moment as a young person? I had a really lovely childhood in the Midwest. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and then when I was eight, we moved to the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. My parents both worked, and I learned a lot about the importance of having a work ethic and equally making time for family. I am an only child, so I had a lot of time for imagination and creativity! I remember making up dances and plays a lot with my friends and cousins…even thought I wasn’t yet an artist, I was always creative in my own way. I even started a jewelry business at one point and sold beaded hemp bracelets on the sidewalk. I guess you could say I knew the value of creativity and commerce at a young age!
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
I can’t go without my oil pastels by Sennelier. They are smooth like butter and add the perfect highlights and definition to my acrylic-based paintings. Layering oil pastels on top of acrylic definitely makes the varnishing process much more complicated, but completely worth it!
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
My dining room, hands down. It has floral wallpaper by Schumacher that looks hand-painted even though it’s not, and the ceiling is covered in a sage green lacquer wallpaper that looks like paint! We have a beautiful mahogany table and Chippendale chairs that are covered in pink velvet fabric. We moved into our house about a year ago and this was the first formal dining room we’ve had as a married couple, so it’s been so fun to create tablescapes and host dinner parties. We haven’t been able to entertain that often the past seven months due to Covid, but we hope to get back to it soon! In the meantime, I love to create tablescapes for fun!
What is your biggest score online?
A set of painted palm tree candlesticks that I always have on my dining room table. They were about $50 for a set of five on Chairish.com and I always get questions about where they are from! I love scouring vintage sites to find unique pieces that no one else has.
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
It’s amazing to learn about emerging and up and coming artists through collectives. Sometimes brick and mortar galleries can feel intimidating, especially for new collectors. Collectives like Well + Wonder provide such an easy and accessible way to discover art that completely speaks to you and allows you to learn more about the artist behind the brush.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
The Met in New York City. My husband and I went on our first date there, and it’s nestled on the Upper East Side in such a grand, beautiful and historic building…filled with so many amazing works of art.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
The Carlyle in Manhattan. The rooms are old school and preppy, and it’s just a few blocks way from where I used to live in NYC, so when I visit it reminds me of that time in my life. Also…the piano bar, Bemelmans’s is an experience unto itself. Sip a martini there next time you’re in NYC – trust me.
If you were a lipstick color would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
I’ve always wanted to be red, but I think I’m more of a pinky nude.
I can never get on a plane without….
stacks of magazines. I don’t get a lot of time to read hard-copy magazines anymore, so when I love to use time on planes to catch up on People, Elle, Inc., Fast Company, House Beautiful. Veranda, and Southern Living! I like a variety!
How did you get into the world of art?
I kind of stumbled into it. I spent 12 years working in PR, but after the birth of my second son George in 2018 I left my career to focus on motherhood. I loved it but was in a bit of a post-partum funk with a fussy baby and two kids under two. I started painting to relieve my stress and it was so much fun that six months later I turned it into a business and here we are! It’s been a wild ride, but I truly believe I was always meant to be an artist…it just found me later in life.
What do you do to relax?
Exercise or get a massage!
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
Interior design – I love traditional design with a twist. Some of my favorite designers are Mark Sikes, Amy Berry, Caroline Gidiere, Shelly Johnstone. I love looking at an image of a beautiful room and using those color schemes as jumping off points for my work.
Prediction for the Color of 2021?
Coral!
What is your idea of a date night?
Dinner and a movie or dancing all night? A nice Italian dinner with my husband, and then home and in bed by 9 pm! My kids wake up so early!
Tell us about your favorite painting that you have created.
I have special places in my heart for so many, but I really love a piece I created early this year called “Breathing in Nature,” - it was a large monochromatic green painting and had so many hidden moments within it. I then added small pops of orange and purple and it felt so fresh and unique to me. Haven’t been able to make on like it since!
One piece of advice for buying original art?
Invest in what speaks to you – you’ll ALWAYS find a place for it.
