Dear North Church Friends,
Years ago many art gallery quality prints were left to the church by members Don and Karen Erickson when they moved away. The paintings were done by Don's brother, Stuart, an extremely talented artist, who passed away in 1980. Over the years they have been made available at auctions and tag sales but we have many left and would like to see folks enjoying them. Please check them out and if you are interested in one or more please let me know and I will make arrangements to get them to you. Donations to the church would be welcomed but are not required.
Steve Hadge email:info-schmuddy@yahoo.com phone:(860)756-6431
The first painting instruction Stuart ever took was when he enrolled at The Principia College in the Fall of 1975 for his Junior year. His instructor in Beginning Art was Glenn Felch who brought out this so-far unknown talent- when Stu graduated in June 1978 he received THE STUDENT ART PROJECT AWARD which "Goes to the student who has produced, in any medium, an outstanding piece of art lending itself to permanent exhibition. This piece of art is bought from the student for the amount of the award, and placed on exhibition at Principia College". His painting "Dry Docked" hangs in Howard College Center-it was painted in June 1977 while with Glenn Felch's class at Stonington, Maine.
Stuart attended Healdsburg schools from kindergarden through high school, then two years at Santa Rosa Junior College, earning a degree in electronics. He worked two summers for Hewlett-Packard, after graduating from College he worked for Fairchild.
The Swisher House was painted in August 1976 after just one year of instruction. It won a First Place Award (At the Annual Blossom Tour in Healdsburg, the Spring of 1978.)
The Fountain Grove and The Hop Kiln Winery were entered in the Sonoma County Fair of 1979 and won First and Second Places respectively in Traditional Watercolor. His work has also been voted First Place in several Art Club exhibitions.
He has sold 30 paintings, done one each for his brothers Don and Tom, and exchanged two with Glenn Felch and Paul Dutcher. His work was selling as fast as he could produce it, and he had several on commission. Only because he was getting ready for an exhibit in October were there seven paintings framed and ready. The Fountain Grove was repurchased, the P-38 was returned by the family of Marc Chase, the other young man killed with him; the Seascape was framed by Bruner's Fine Arts in memorium, and two others found among his works were the Mississippi Barge and the Stonington Street, to make an even dozen for this collection.
His Seascape was finished in 1980, shortly before he was killed in a car accident. His life insurance was used to make PRINTS of the 12 Originals owned by his family.
