Artist Profile:
Eric Black

Even Cowgirls get the Blues", 18 x 24 pen and ink & pastel, on board.

Old Cougar, 1995

I started doing pen and in as an assignment in a high school art class. After high school, I won several awards at county fairs with my pen and ink, so of course, I put it down and didn't touch my pens again for about 25 years. College and new careers and life got in the way. I was in Florida with my wife and had nothing to do one day so I dug out my old pens and ink, dip pen and ink at the time, and drew an old Cougar. This was about 1995. everything else you see now has been since then. I started doing little flea markets selling 8 x 10 prints I had made at Kinkos. From there it's just been growing. I like big cats, and wildlife. My early work was mostly wildlife, pen, and ink only with no background. Very primitive, but I sold it.

VERONICA-FOUR-Metalpoint

I've added new mediums as I went along, like pastel and in 2000 I learned about metalpoint. Silverpoint mostly, with some gold nudes. I'm interested in doing what other artists don't, like the metalpoint. My pen and ink and metalpoint are unique as I do what other artist are not doing. I found out early that with a pen I have the ability to draw almost anything I see. With a brush I'm hopeless. I love bringing things to life, watching them evolve from an idea into reality. My interests are varied, and I must admit since I've been making a living from my artwork, with an eye towards sellability. Pen and ink is too slow to spend 3-4 months on something that I can't sell. I envy artists that can stand back and throw paint at a canvas and be done in an hour. I do what I do because I love it. I love mixing mediums now. I will continue what I do because it's me. It's what I am.

"Work Boots", 12 x 16, Silverpoint and pen and ink on board

I moved to Tucson 7 years ago. I enjoy doing the silverpoint because no one else does it. I like combining different mediums and seeing what effect I can get from that. Ink is always my base and I go from there. I started doing ink stippling several years ago, on top of the silverpoint. It gives a very soft look and creates more contrast which silverpoint just won't do by itself. I'm supposed to be retired now, but for the life of me, I can't figure what I'm supposed to retire from?

To see more of my art, and perhaps purchase, please visit my virtual gallery. You can also find my work at Sol Art Pop Up Gallery, 988 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ.