Meet Erica Norwood | Painter and mural artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Norwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
This might sound like a cliche artist answer, but I’d call it less of a thought process and more of simply following my intuition. I’ve always loved to create, and so in the beginning, there was no thought of money. Even my first official art teaching job, at Studio Art House in Southlake, 14 years ago, was suggested to me by someone else. It felt like the right direction, so I went for it. While teaching there, I was introduced to so many new art mediums, that I was bursting with inspiration every single day. I’d teach all day, then drive home and stay up half the night, trying out all of my weird ideas. I think any artist can fully relate to that feeling, and it’s really amazing! Over the years, I was married and had children, which took me out of the 9-5 workforce. But the desire to create was of course, still there. Everyone around me knew that I loved to paint, and eventually people started asking me if I could paint their portrait, paint their cat, paint on their walls etc. My philosophy then was that if you’re an artist with an opportunity to sell your artwork while you’re still alive, do it. Someone wants a portrait of their grandma? Well, you’d better learn how to paint a little old lady. Someone wants a porcupine painted in watercolor? Time to brush up on those watercolor skills and learn how to use a skinny paintbrush! I took any and every job I was asked to do, and eventually, I became so busy that I could hardly keep up. During covid, businesses started reaching out to me about painting murals while their buildings were empty, and that’s when I really became more of a mural artist than anything else. The same rules apply to painting on a wall, as they do a tiny canvas. You just need larger brushes. But there is something magical about a huge blank wall transforming into something totally new, in just a couple of days, and I think I’m hooked on that magic!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’d say my signature style centers around color and high contrast. Show me a red apple, and as I’m painting it, I’ll find 20 other colors you didn’t realize were there. The harder you look at something, the more colors you’ll see. And I try to reflect that in my art.
What I’m most proud of at the moment, is my newest collection I’m working on. It was fun staying busy with mural jobs, and don’t get me wrong, I’m still going. But every artist needs time to step away from official work and get back to experimenting and trying out those weird ideas that keep you up at night. A blessing in disguise came when having sick family members and being sick myself, kept me away from work for a short time. I started playing around with some new ideas on canvas, and now I can hardly sleep, I’m so inspired! And for an artist, there is no better feeling in the world than that of inspiration. I have twenty paintings floating around in my mind right now, that must be put onto canvas! Right now all of those ideas are sculptural paintings, that sparkle. You know that funny desire to dip your fingers into candle wax? That’s the feeling behind the texture in my new paintings. There is something very satisfying about texture in art, and I’m hoping to achieve that in my newest art pieces.
I’ve learned a lot from my customers, and painting custom commissions really forces you to branch out and pick up new techniques. It’s like being in school, only this time you’re getting paid! My customer turned friend, Jodie Brinkerhoff, really helped me organize my ideas while staying true to my own art style. Every commission she’s requested from me was backed by her encouragement of doing what feels right to me. And that’s key for any artist, trying to find their style.
I’ve faced some challenges in my personal life, just like anyone. Challenges that felt impossible at times, to overcome. And it was painting and my faith that got me through. I believe whatever passion you’ve always had, you must follow it. And if you do, and not necessarily for money, but just for the pure joy of doing what you love, you’ll be set on the path that God wants for your life. So at a time when I was struggling the most, it was art that helped pay the bills, and it was art that calmed my mind enough to stay sane and see my way to the other side.
Read any biography of any successful artist, and they’ll tell you the same thing. I’ve been reading books about Picasso and Georgia O’Keeffe, and it was their ability to stay true to their art and to themselves that helped them find success. O’Keeffe once hung all of her artwork on the tiny walls of her apartment, and she analyzed it, only to realize that each group of paintings and drawings reflected not her own style, but that of each teacher she’d had through the years. She took it all down and instead, began a more uninhibited approach, allowing herself to make art that pleased her, without worrying about what would sell or what others might think. That was the moment that her signature style was born, and though I’d never dare to place myself on the level of O’Keeffe, that mindset when applied to my own work, has really propelled me recently. I think you can feel that sense of excitement through my words right now!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Lonestar Antiques, and we would have tea and eat little sandwiches there. We’d look through yearbooks from the 50’s and see what people wrote in them at the end of the school terms. Then we’d go to Summer Moon Coffee and talk about everything people aren’t supposed to talk about. Religion, politics, conspiracy theories, all without judgement and with a lot of laughter. We’d talk about the books we’re reading and about history and culture. We’d then go to Cryo-x and have a health spa day, sitting in the salt room, relaxing in the sanctuary theater, and then freezing in the cryosauna! Then we’d have coffee again, because there is nothing wrong with drinking coffee all day. (Half kidding) But Re:defined Coffee House is right next door to Cryo-x, so that’s where we’d go next.
Then we’d probably hang out with my next door neighbor Schuyler, a cool old man who’s a painter and a writer. We’d drink brandy with him and listen to his stories about when he lived in Hollywood.
The next day, we’d go to Six Flags and ride everything multiple times. After that we’d eat at Hanabi Hibachi and Sushi in the Heritage Trace shopping center. On the way home, we’d buy a bottle of red wine and go back to my house. We’d each have a glass, while painting and drawing together, and it would be Glorious! For the rest of the week, we would just do those exact same things on repeat, until we collapsed with exhaustion!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My entire family, but especially my twin sister, have been my champions all along. Even when my initial paintings were lackluster at best, my twin sister, Alicia Mullins, was telling me I was the best artist in the world. Every artist starts off knowing nothing about art, so we all need a healthy amount of delusion to keep going and not quit, and she absolutely provided that for me! She’s a success story herself, being the owner of Cryo-x in Grapevine, Texas, and anyone who knows her can attest that she’s the nicest most positive person you will ever meet! We all need a person like her in our lives.
I also owe a lot of credit to Anita Robbins, owner of Studio Art House. Back when I was somewhat of a beginner artist, she gave me professional tips and critiques of my artwork. And she introduced me to hundreds of different ways of making art. She definitely has the same passion for color and for creating that I do, so she’s an exciting friend to have!
Then I must thank Katie and Kenyon Coleman, owners of Re:defined Coffee House. I became friends with them many years ago, and they paid me more for a painting than I ever would’ve thought to charge. They told me that my art had more value than I gave myself credit for, and that really made an impact on me.
Lastly, one of my college art professors, Tommy Fitzpatrick. His enthusiasm and passion for art is beyond contagious! He’s one of those art instructors who sees the potential in people and makes them excited about it too! This was probably 16 years ago now, but he told me that he foresees me having a “really weird and cool” art show someday, and that was really motivating to me, as funny as that sounds. Weird is not always negative. Weird can describe the method for painting in an unexpected way, and with my next show, I hope to perfectly fit that description!

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