About

Erika Parrino is a painter who works from her studio in Sausalito, California. Born in 1963, she grew up in a small town in southern California. She attended The University of Redlands, where she studied art history and printmaking. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Industrial Arts. Her artistic practice has encompassed painting, printmaking, and encaustic/mixed media work. She is currently focused on painting. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

My paintings explore the complexity and beauty of biodiversity through layered abstraction. Using acrylic paint, pencil, ink, and crayon, I build up transparent and opaque layers, preserving earlier marks so they remain visible beneath the surface. This process reflects the way nature itself is built in layers—through ecosystems, geological time, and the interconnected relationships between living things.

I am drawn to the natural world not only for its beauty, but for its hidden networks of connection. Forests, wetlands, and meadows reveal histories and relationships that are often invisible at first glance. By allowing earlier marks to emerge through later layers, my paintings evoke this sense of depth, complexity, and discovery.

Although my work is abstract, hints of landscape often appear as horizons, organic forms, or natural textures. These familiar elements invite viewers into the work while leaving space for personal interpretation. I hope my paintings inspire a sense of wonder and celebrate the extraordinary richness and interconnectedness of life on Earth.