Interview With Artist & Author Aimee Erickson

 

 

1. What motivated you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and turning it into this book? 

I was delighted when the publisher approached me in search of an author. I'd considered writing a book but this was the perfect opportunity. 

2. What is it about and who is it for?

Plein air painting is the practice of painting outdoors on location, just like Monet and Renoir did, allowing the artist to observe light and nature in the moment and translate directly to the canvas. This book is for those who love beauty and want to better understand how we see and how we can capture a convincing version of reality in two dimensions, and also for anyone who wants a book with gorgeous reproductions of beautiful paintings. 

3. What takeaways might the reader will be left with after reading it?

I expect the reader will be inspired and start feeling the itch to get out the art supplies and lay down some color. I also suspect the reader will be very clear on the fact that reflections always go straight down.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

Easy: I approved the designer's decisions.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?

Something I never learned in school--that writing is one thing and editing is completely separate. This applies to painting as well--there's a mindset where you just go--just paint, or just write, don't think about it, only do. Afterwards, in a different frame of mind, you can assess, consider, rearrange.   

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?

I don't have much perspective here.   

7. What challenges did you overcome to write this book?

I had a great time writing it! My challenge was the distractions of typing on a computer--you know, notifications, updates, alerts, icons, all that animated nonsense, which I overcame by using a 1950's era Royal typewriter and typing it out on three-by-five cards. No saving needed, and no backspacing or copying and pasting, either, which helps me organize my thoughts. Of course I retyped everything into the computer later. 

8. How would you describe your writing style?

 I tend towards the poetic. Ages ago I had a job as a technical writer at a missile subsystems manufacturer, which was a very different kind of writing--very specific and structured. When I write about dreams or painting or life in general, my words build momentum and drift towards a moment--definitely not the school system's favorite essay structure.  

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

It has beautiful pictures, and reading it will introduce you to a change in perception--a literal change in how you see the world.   

About the Author: Known for an engaging style and versatility in subject matter, AIMEE ERICKSON is an internationally renowned oil painter and instructor who has given lectures and demonstrations at venues nationwide and abroad. A standout at plein air painting competitions, she has won both Best of Show and Artists’ Choice at Plein Air Easton, as well as Best of Show at Carmel, Sonoma, Olmsted, Laguna, and Pacific Northwest art festivals. Erickson has been a Portrait Society of America finalist, won Best of Show at an American Women Artists national show, and is a signature member with multiple awards from Oil Painters of America. She has exhibited with international plein-air groups in China and Russia, is an inaugural member of Charlie Hunter’s En Train Air expedition, and in 1997 painted the official portrait of governor of Oregon Barbara Roberts. Her work has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector, and Plein Air Magazine, and on OutdoorPainter.com. Erickson has a BFA in Visual Communication Design with an Illustration emphasis. She lives in Portland, Oregon, and carries a sketchbook.  For more information, please see: www.aimeeerickson.com 

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.2 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.