Even though it can be a fickle medium, I predominantly work with watercolor and gouache. I love using rich and vibrant colors in my work. For my subjects, I draw inspiration from nature and pop culture genres like anime. I seek to express a childlike joy and sense of peace and happiness while also imbuing a slight tension in the areas of shadows.
 
I completed my Master’s of Fine Arts in Illustration from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco in the spring of 2019 and my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Drawing in 2005. I joined the U.S. Army, was commissioned as an Officer and in 2007  deployed for fourteen months to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After almost nine years of active duty military service, I’m now pursuing my passion of art full time. 
I’ve illustrated “Whitlee’s Magical Adventure” by Corinda Watson
and “Ghost Text” by James Barnes (currently in press)
My work can be seen in the Gift Space section of Art Space in Shreveport, LA, at the Agora Borealis, also located in Shreveport, LA and in the permanent collection of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery Museum in Shreveport, LA. 

Erica Branch

Artist Resume

Awards and Acheivements:

Bloom piece in permanent collection of The R.W. Norton Gallery Museum 2019

1 of 20 Selected for Holidaze at Art Space, Shreveport, LA 2018

1st Place in Category Mixed Media and Pastel,

Baytown, Texas, Art League Spring Show 2017

Lyon, France, 4th International LDoll Face Painting  2014 1st Place

Denver, Colorado Day of the Dead Show, 2012 4th Place

Manitou Springs, Colorado 2010, Boutique Manitou Springs

Clarksville, Tennessee 2004 Le Petite Art Gallery

Clarksville, Tennessee 2004 1st place Fidelity Bank Show

Skills:

Expertly advises on format, lettering sizes, font styles,

color harmony (including photographic qualities of various color combinations)

Uses a variety of methods, techniques, and materials in the design, production and reproduction of visual products to plan and create aesthetically composed visual products to convey the client’s message. Excels at creating illustrations in a variety of styles with different types of art media, creating unique layouts and translating vague verbal descriptions from clients into original designs and selecting elements of visual products.

Accels in a wide variety of general and technical illustrations.

Capable of creating artistic renderings, interior designs, multimedia presentations, designs of large posters, as well as logo design and development.

Advises clients in the application of a wide variety of options in the graphic presentation of concepts and ideas. Programs knowledge includes

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Corel Painter, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel

Mediums: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Ink, Charcoal, Woodworking, Mixed media

Experience:

Illustrator for “Ghost Text” by James Barnes (in press-2019)

Illustrator for “Whitlee’s Magical Adventure” by Corinda Watson- 2019

US Army 2006-2015

Designed and painted 20×40 foot Floor Mural, Fort Jackson, SC

Designed Numerous Company Logos and T-shirt Designs

Mural for Task Force Vigilant in Iraq, 2008

Designed Flyers and Mailers for various Military award ceremonies

Provided design services, portraits and special commissions for individual Soldiers

Education:

2019 Masters of Fine Arts in Illustration,

Academy of Art University

2005 Bachelors of Fine Arts emphasis in Drawing,

Austin Peay State University