An Addiction to Colored Pencils
A video interview with Erica Houston

Portrait painting is a notoriously difficult task, and not just because the ability to achieve a reasonable likeness with line and color is a craft that requires hours of dedication. Dealing with the emtoins and self-image of a patron can prove as trying as getting the right glaze to portray the luminosity of skin. If in the process an artist wants to express some of their own artistic vision, well . . . let’s just say it’s not a genre fit for everyone. But it is one that is proving right for Erica Houston, a Salt Lake City artist who manages to create unique portraits that go beyond a simple profile or three-quarters view. And she’s doing it all in colored pencils. Watch the video to learn more.