Written by Caitlin Reclusado
When you first walk into the Phoenix Shop, it's a dazzling array of color, scent and pattern. Since it's beginning our shop has been a curation of the unique and the handcrafted; a home to all sorts of artistry, both from around the globe and from right here at home. And nothing comes closer to home than the art of the deeply talented Erin Lee Gafill. Her paintings adorn our walls, each one a window into Big Sur's ever-changing faces. They are a meditation on the land that watched her grow up: its rocky cliffs plunging into the immense Pacific, the lone oak outside her window wrapped in light, the dawn echoing across the sky in deep blues and sharp golds. Each day carries its own beauty, and Erin's paintings are a record of her exploration of that magnificence.
Growing up quite literally at Nepenthe, Erin had no shortage of exposure to art as a child. The scene at Nepenthe was one of vibrant expression. From ballet classes on the terrace in the morning, to the sewing room with a seamstress always making custom dresses, to the numerous plays and dances being performed, Nepenthe was a hub of creativity. From an early age, Erin saw that handmade expression had value. Even a bowl of onions in the kitchen could cease to be merely an ingredient for soup and become a still life ready to be memorialized in a painting. Being raised in an environment like that helped show her that art has no hierarchy, that creating is something vital and necessary to life. It wasn't until she went out into the world that she realized this wasn't a message everyone got to hear growing up. That knowledge is something that has colored much of what she's built and still fuels her passion for the path she walks today.
Painting wasn't Erin's first, obvious calling. In fact, in the beginning, she felt writing was her purpose. She wrote plays and novels, short stories and essays. Then, when Highway One washed out in 1998, she delved into teaching. Erin founded the Big Sur Arts Initiative, to connect the children, cut off in Big Sur, with other artists. She remembered the joys of growing up the way she did and wanted to help other children have the same privilege. This incredible venture expanded into a ten-year endeavor of bringing artists into the Big Sur community and offering support and coordination in numerous disciplines.
During this time, she continued her writing practice, though she began to wake up to the knowledge that while she loved helping others connect to their creative spirit, she needed to find a way to better connect to her own. It was while taking a painting class to help her write a piece about her Grandmother's passion for painting, that she found her own. When she was painting, she was present, she was responding, dwelling in the beauty of "what is". Making art from nature, from the presence of visual beauty, was incredibly calming and nurturing. She'd end her day of painting and would feel happy. And then one day, she had this revelation: that this could be her life moving forward. A life of an artist, of someone who paints and teaches. Through a lot of dedication, that realization has become her reality: one spent honoring the beauty of the world with her paintings and building a platform that helps nurture the creative spirit of others by offering classes, talks, advice, and encouragement. It's the core of who she is, and it guides her forward.
Her advice to other creatives is to VALUE YOURSELF. Recognize that you deserve to make having a creative practice important in your life; that it is essential to your humanity, your spirituality, and your mental health. Life is full of challenges, and we all have many needs we must meet, but if there is even one minute left in your day, allow yourself to use it for your creative expression. You deserve to make it your priority, to make it the core principle that you organize your day around. Don't give your power to guilt, to feeling like you need to ask permission. This is your time. And don't forget that it's a practice, that you're not going to get it in one fell swoop. You're going to be learning all the time, so surround yourself with those that support your journey. To sum it up simply with the words of one of her favorite organizations, the Youth Arts Collective:
Do art, be kind.
For more of Erin’s beautiful art, please click here.
Stop by The Phoenix Shop to see the beautiful work of Erin Lee Gafill
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To learn more about Erin, you can also visit her website, https://eringafill.com/