Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Guillory Page.
Erika is an artist specializing in large-scale oil paintings on wood panel. For over 15 years, she has brought vibrant and emotional narratives to life through her art, sharing her passion as shaped by her own experiences.
Born in 1972 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Page began a journey that would be filled with intrigue and veiled adversity. From her childhood as a warden’s daughter to her early career in healthcare to her current life as an artist, wife, and mother, life has gifted her with collections of stories that unfold in her paintings.
Though her heart longed for self-expression, there was little opportunity for in-depth fine art study growing up in rural Louisiana. Her professional path first led to a career in nursing, where she practiced in the ER and ICU at hospitals in Louisiana, Virginia, and Georgia. Working with the ill and suffering as a BSN, RN, and massage therapist has profoundly influenced her work.
After her marriage and the births of her two daughters, Page found her voice in painting. She has studied with instructors and mentors such as Charles Walls, Michael David, and Cynthia Packard. “Storytelling is the very soul of my work,” Page remarks. “My desire as a painter is to share each story and make each mark with integrity. My work is full of grit and grace, and my hope is that my stories connect with yours.”
Erika’s signature work is large-scale paintings, utilizing oil paint and cold wax on wood panel ranging up to ten feet in size. She also produces intimate scale oil crayon drawings on paper and other original works. Her work has been featured in exhibitions and private collections across the US. She currently lives and works in Milton, Georgia, juggling the full-time jobs of mother and artist. Page is currently represented by gallery43 in Roswell, GA, and Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, NM.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a full-time artist and full-time mother is never an easy road. It takes an extreme amount of discipline to continue effective studio practices, business practices, and all the while raising children and keeping up with the home management requirements. I have often thought about “throwing in the towel” so to speak. One day when I was choking back the emotion of giving up, my daughter was in the back seat while we were waiting on her sister.
She asked me what was wrong and I told her I was thinking about putting my art business on hold until another time – that it was just too much to juggle. She looked me straight in the eye (this is my 11 years old here) and said, “Momma, stop talking that nonsense. You’re doing great! I know you would never tell me to give up. You have to follow your dream. And besides, if you give up – that means I will have to give up… because I want to be just like you.” Now that statement sealed the deal. I guess I wasn’t doing all that bad at parenting or being an artist when my daughter could say something so passionately. I haven’t looked back since.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Erika Guillory Page Fine Art – what should we know?
I am a fine artist known for my abstract, contemporary oil paintings. I am most proud of my growth as an artist and the progress I have made in the quality of my work. What sets me apart might be the special attention to details I put into each piece and the relationships I truly care about making when I work with anyone interested in investing in my work.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Do I have to choose just one word? 😉 After all, you are talking to an artist here that starts each painting with a story and surface full of words! If I had to choose just one it would be GRIT. What that word means to me is doing what I have to do, even when I don’t feel like it, never giving up, being open to constructive critique, changing things when they aren’t working, assessing with an objective eye what I need to do for my growth – fortitude, gratitude, attitude (a positive one that is)!
Contact Info:
- Website: erikaguillorypage.com
- Phone: 770-630-4368
- Email: e@erikaguillorypage.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/erika_guillory_page/
- Facebook: facebook.com/Erika-Guillory-Page-Fine-Art
Image Credit:
Liz Stubbs
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