Rising Stars: Meet Erin Reinholtz of Alto, Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Reinholtz

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
A few years ago, I was having pain in my eyes that grew so bad, I worried I might not be able to see again. At the time, I hadn’t been making art for a while, though I was always a creative child and spent a lot of time drawing and painting in my school years. I earned awards back then for my art and graduated college with a B.F.A. in Studio Art and an M.A. in Counseling and Art Therapy. I worked as an Art Therapist for a number of years before choosing to stay home to raise my children. All this time, I had been making my own art. But as a mother of young children, I didn’t make time for it anymore. I was still creative, photographing my kids and other people and some of the landscape around us, but it didn’t fulfill me or feel the same as drawing and painting had. It wasn’t until that moment when I thought I wouldn’t ever be able to paint what I saw again that I realized I took it for granted.

Thankfully, my eye troubles were cured, and I have since focused on being more present and grateful for the beauty of the everyday world around me. A lot of my paintings focus on sunlight, and that is because I feel very lucky for each day that I am able to see the light– literally, as light was the thing that had hurt my eyes the most when I wasn’t feeling well. Looking back now, about five years after I chose to become a professional artist, motherhood was very special to me, and I loved those early days with my babies. I don’t regret a thing about it, and what I went through inspires much of my lifestyle and the story I carry today. I now paint regularly and sell my work to people who connect with the imagery and the story. I hope my artwork can be a source of beauty and inspiration to others.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not easy being an artist for a career! There’s a lot that goes into the behind-the-scenes, a lot to figure out in regards to marketing and sales, which isn’t the part I enjoy much. It takes a lot of work to help the right people find my work. But once they do, it is a beautiful thing to see how much the art resonates with them and how happy they are to have it! It’s a slow journey building an art business. Despite that, I make art for a deeper meaning, and that will always drive what I do. The connections art can create between people, places. and memories is so important!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a fine artist and most known for my colorful landscape paintings. I paint the beauty I see in everyday life, and this feels familiar to a lot of other people. I try to take time to notice things that people are often too busy to stop and appreciate. On a deeper level, I think we all do find gratitude for these things, though, and so it feels good to have a painting of something both beautiful and cherished in that way in order to be able to appreciate it in our homes. I am most proud of the fact that I took the hard road and “went for it” as an artist. I show up, I do the work, and I try my best to stay true to the heart of what brought me back to painting.

There’s a lot of artwork out there, but each artist has their own story and journey that sets us apart. Mine includes being a mother, overcoming a struggle, having courage, and living with intention. I life for the deeper aspects of life, not just to get ahead of others, to grow my bank account, or to be more powerful. I think people who are looking for a greater purpose, who appreciate nature, and who want to help add beauty to the world instead of fear and overwhelm are the ones who will feel connected most to my work.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a little shy when I was young but had a great group of close friends and a good relationship with my family. I liked to explore outside, create games, and do a lot of arts and crafty stuff. I kept a journal daily, read a lot, and liked to travel. I loved animals, was a bit of a risk-taker, and was a very good student. I felt like I wanted to learn almost everything, help other people and animals, and see the world. I had a lot of support and encouragement from my parents and my sister, and I had a reputation for being smart, funny, and kind.

Pricing:

• My paintings are priced by size, ranging from $114-5,000
• My art prints start at $35

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.erinreinholtz.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/erinreinholtzart
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/erinreinholtzart
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@Erinreinholtzart