A B O U T
EROCLARK.COM : Narrative Paintings by Beth Clark
About me
I'm a former Art Director returning to my true passion, creating works of art.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Wake Forest University and an additional focus on studio art at Old Dominion University, I started my career in the arts as a Graphic Designer. I soon went back to school to receive my Master’s in Graphic Design at North Carolina State University. I later worked as an Art Director, Vice President and Creative Director in advertising and marketing firms both in Richmond, VA and in Washington, DC. Furthermore I taught graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter.
After taking a break to raise my children, I started back in the arts by focusing on my photography. As I shoot photos, a narrative usually develops as I’m scouting for the right locations, subjects, lighting and composition. I quickly found that photography alone was not enough to bring the story I’m envisioning to life. I missed tactile creation and began to build the storylines through a combination of mediums. My photography became the backbone for my move into creating collages, drawings and paintings to establish my style and tell my stories. My paintings often have an illustrative nature, with an intense emotional response from the use of color.
Now I am where I need to be. I am still taking lots of photos in my everyday life and in my travels, studying nature, drawing, doodling (my high school friends all surely remember), collaging, painting and most importantly, creating stories through my art to share.
You will notice that my work is sometimes signed “BClark” or “ERO”. I am now moving to branding all my work under “ERO Clark” as there are far too many of us BClark’s out in the world today. But only one ERO Clark — that’s me.
ABOUT THE WORK - Formerly ON EXHIBITION in "Ode to Richmond" at CROSSROADS ART CENTER, RICHMOND, VA. NOW SOLD
“RVA via Train” 48 x 36 in. Acrylic Canvas Wrapped © Elizabeth Renn Oelrich Clark, 2023. SOLD
When I was a child, my family moved into a "new to us" house in Norfolk, Virginia. I immediately thought this old historic house was haunted. Every night I heard voices speaking words I couldn't understand along with whistles and loud, vibrating metallic noises. I had a hard time sleeping. But while exploring my new neighborhood on my bike, I was quickly relieved. The noises were definitely coming from the nearby train station located a little over a block away. Norfolk Southern was a busy place, especially at night. These sounds lulled me to sleep every night of my childhood.
When I first visited Richmond, Virginia before a move here in 2001, I lunched at Bottom's Up Pizza in Shockoe Bottom. I happened to sit on the patio when the train passed overhead. Some customers found the train noise and vibrations bothersome. But for me, it felt familiar- louder, but like home. The Conductor smiled, waved and blew his whistle upon seeing us on the patio. I sent him a wave back and I instantly knew that Richmond would work out for me. The experience felt like home, but still uniquely Richmond.
After my second move back to Richmond, I brought my young kids downtown one day to swim under the tracks. It was a hot August sweaty day, and they had been begging to go explore the James River and cool off. They swung on the rope swing below the tracks, dove down to look at fish and skipped rocks. Hearing the incoming vibrations, they swam out into the River with me to get a better look at the incoming train. As the train passed overhead, I snapped some GoPro photos that reminded me of an Edward Hopper postcard that later were inspiration for this painting "RVA via Train." My kids, like me, felt the trains over the James River and Richmond were a perfect pairing to also call home. #
“RVA via Train” 48 X 36 in. Acrylic Canvas Wrapped © Elizabeth Renn Oelrich Clark, 2023. FOR SALE
What I do
"The process of creating revives my soul—
it's a gift to myself."
Let me work with you to create a custom portrait. My portraits are normally derived from multiple photos of the person and veer into fantasy and abstraction.
My Abstracts are inspired by nature. They may take on various styles, marks, and symbols.
My landscapes are primarily derived from visions I have seen and experienced in Virginia and North/South Carolina as well as from Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. My scenes often cast a spell on me- I feel like I am discovering the magic of each place all over again when I paint the scene.
As an adamant gardener, most of my still life painting derives from the gardens I frequent and tend, as well as from the animals that live there. I take lots of pictures as reference, to be able to work in the seasons where I can’t be in the garden or in parks.
Contact
Contact me to discuss any of your painting needs.
- beth@eroclark.com
- @eroclarkart