Erick Ingraham
Artist Statement "My recent photography of the dancers of the Monadnock Performing Arts Academy, in Peterborough, inspired me to captured these fleeting moments of artistically designed movement. In this latest series of oil paintings, I used a variety of age-old oil painting methods on a very smooth surface to celebrate the beauty of dancers in motion. My technique showcases my years of accumulated skill in drawing and brushwork beginning with the underpainting. Even after the application of the many layers of overpainting that follow, my goal is to retain a look of effortlessness, a delicate balance between freedom and skill."Biography Ingraham's career as an artist began with receiving a BFA in Painting from Kutztown University in 1972. After his earliest work for Rodale Press in Pennsylvania, illustrating books on subjects like Organic Flower Gardening and Producing your Own Power, he began his work illustrating for children's books in 1976. He has been honored with many awards for work in children's books beginning with a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for his second book, "Cross-Country Cat", in 1979. Continuing his editorial and picture book illustration, he moved to Peterborough and went on to illustrate 12 more books. Henry the Siamese cat, the well-known character in the six Mary Calhoun books, is entertaining a second generation of early readers. A Japanese Press translated Cross-Country Cat, and recently released the Japanese language version of "Hot-Air Henry", "Henry The Sailor Cat", and "Henry the Christmas Cat". Henry fans who visit are in for a treat seeing the original paintings Mr. Ingraham created for the books in the gallery, both in frames and in the retrospective shrink-wrapped work. To learn more about the many facets of his career, go to Erick Ingraham's website, ErickIngraham.com