Nature-inspired artist captures the places we hold in our hearts

By Chelsi Lasater - Special to the Standard-Examiner | Dec 9, 2021

: Erica Lyon artwork inside her new Studio 10 space at The Monarch.

: Erica Lyon poses while hiking with her husband, Tom, and pup Griffin.

: “Northern Utah” art piece by Erica Lyon.

: “Ogden Flow” art piece by Erica Lyon.

: Signs to Erica Lyon’s new shared studio at The Monarch with Sara Austin.

: Erica Lyon artwork inside her new Studio 10 space at The Monarch.

Photo supplied, Erica Lyon

Erica Lyon artwork inside her new Studio 10 space at The Monarch.

New Monarch artist Erica Lyon has been creating ever since she was tall enough to stand at an easel. Born in Helena, Montana, and brought up mostly in Keizer, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, Lyon has always been inspired by the beauty of nature.

“The calm of the mountains, snow and rivers, the shapes of the rocks and canyons are visible and evident in my work,” said Lyon, who uses locally sourced mineral pigments in her work.

Lyon has actively pursued an art career the past 21 years while being actively engaged in the community and with her students as art teacher. Now, she brings her watercolor and ink-based artwork to Studio 10, which she shares with artist Sara Austin, allowing Lyon a space to work and to connect even more within the creative community of Ogden.

Also working with oils, acrylics and murals to create original works, prints, stickers, cards and more, Lyon’s nature-inspired artwork can be found in local shops around town such as The Local Artisan Collective, Kaffe Mercantile, Gear:30, A. & Co. Salon, Level 9 Sports, The Front Climbing Club … and soon, her mural can seen at the new Slackwater Pub & Pizzeria location downtown.

An adventurer at heart, Lyon has lived all over the western half of the U.S. and in West Africa, climbing, paddle boarding, skiing, camping and hiking. On her website, she states, “I make art in hopes to share those places with others.” Her bright colors and open, clean lines captured on paper, canvas or wood are meant to draw the observer into “places that you hold in your heart.”

Photo supplied, Erica Lyon

Erica Lyon poses while hiking with her husband, Tom, and pup Griffin.

As for other inspirations aside from nature, Lyon cites connection, negative space, colors — and a recent discovery, her mom’s calligraphy. “One day, I was working on some line work and realized that my lines are her calligraphy,” Lyon said.

In high school, after being encouraged by a high school art teacher, she created over 50 murals. That teacher is still a close friend, not only inspiring Lyon’s work, but also inspiring her to become a teacher herself.

As an art teacher at Ben Lomond High School, Lyon’s love of Ogden is deep. “As a teacher, I am influenced by my students and my students have been influenced by my work as well. I have a few students that have pursued art as a career and in turn they have left their mark on Ogden with murals and paintings of their own,” she said.

Lyon’s connection to Ogden runs not only through the canyons and rivers, but also the community. “I am grateful for the community support of the arts,” she said about receiving a Mayor’s Award for Art Education in 2017, Teacher of the Year from Nurture the Creative Mind 2018 and another Teacher of the Year from Eccles Community Art Center in 2019. “Recognitions like those only add fuel to the fire and remind you that you are in the right place.”

Paint kits are available for purchase on her website. After buying a kit, clients receive access to a YouTube video to follow along with. They’re available here: https://www.ericalyonart.com/paint-kits–paint-nights.html