Eric Michael Warner is a traditional contemporary artist operating his studio out of Media, PA. Aiming to use Surrealistic images to tell realistic human experiences. Using a wide arrangement of mixed media materials paired with Fine art and Illustration techniques/processes. Client commissioned work is a specialty.
Born to Military parents on a base in Seoul, South Korea, then moving multiple states before settling in Columbus, OH where I grew up, There was some predisposition genetically for art. My dad owned works from his father and grandfather dating back in the 1890-1905 range hanging in the house. I remember looking at these a lot growing up. He also showed me certain drawing techniques and tools around 8-10 yrs old, things people likely don’t learn until high school art class or after. When I look back at now it was a very early introduction that definitely put me ahead of the game in the drawing realm.
Drawing a lot as a kid, I never took it seriously until I was close to 30yrs old. Moving to Philadelphia, PA in 2018 to Pursue Fine Arts at Studio Incamminati, Founded by the Late Nelson Shanks. I had two things that were a complete mystery to me, Color/Color Theory, and Oil Paint. Known as the “Color school”, Incamminati studied oil painting from life in a French Atelier style with the largest palette of any school, around 25 colors at once. Looked like that is where I was going to school I thought.
After school I reached for study in the other realms, like illustration and film art, immersing myself in composition and narrative type works. Some of my favorite artists blur the line of realism and Illustration, - Norman Rockwell, Maxwell Parrish, Steve Huston, Kim Jung Gi, Darren Kingsley and Jon DeMartin- I find being too dogmatic with Realism or any one genre of art to be an issue for handling your weaknesses while trying to learn in the academic phase.
Studying other Realms and styles of work took me away from Contemporary Realism. Landing somewhere in the middle of Realism and Surrealism. There used to be a much higher sense of storytelling in image making, which I am aimed at focusing on with my work. If I was a writer- I’d write. But I think in pictures, So I think I’ll use those instead.
Commissions, Workshops and private tutoring available:
Ericwarner1718@gmail.com
Schedule a studio visit: (614)975-4035