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Featured Guest:
Erica Kyle Artist Founder, ericakylecreations.com Published Date: July 6, 2026 After a successful 25-year career in banking, artist Erica Kyle took a leap of faith to pursue the creative calling she could no longer ignore. In this inspiring episode of Wisdom for Wannabes, Erica shares her journey to becoming a full-time professional artist, the emotional stories behind her paintings, and how creativity, nature, and the concept of "the ugly middle" have shaped her life, her art, and her purpose. Together, we explore the entrepreneurial mindset behind a thriving creative career, the inspiration she draws from birds, travel, and French Impressionism, and why trusting your intuition can lead to your most meaningful work. Listen to/watch the full podcast recording, or read the transcript below: |
Full Interview with Erica Kyle:
"Pay attention to your gift, how that gift serves its purpose, and let that lead your life."
- Erica Kyle (Wisdom for Wannabes episode 62, 17:05)
Great quotes from the interview:
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in purple below.)
- "I want to give people a reason to slow down, think, and be reflective."
- "My day job fed my family. My art job fed my soul."
- "Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day."
- "We're constantly in the ugly middle of life, but it leads to somewhere peaceful or somewhere joyful."
- "Art has the power to change your perspective."
- "What you see in a piece of art is what's in your heart at that moment."
- "The biggest compliment I can receive is when someone feels peace in the presence of something I've created."
- "Everyone's got something. You just have to dig for it."
- "You don't have to be an artist to live authentically—you just have to pay attention to your passion and let that lead you."
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in purple below.)
Erica Kyle Creations ericakylecreations.com
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Key Takeaways:
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Artist Erica Kyle in Studio 2 at The Peach, West Palm Beach, Florida
Interview Transcript:
Jackie Morreale (00:00)
Hello and welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks wise words in business, beauty and betterment. I am the host, Jackie Morreale.
Today's guest is Erica Kyle, founder of Erica Kyle Creations, a West Palm Beach-based artist whose work blends realism, impressionism, emotion, spirituality into deeply reflective visual storytelling. Inspired by French impressionism and the emotional language of color and brushwork in her paintings, Erica creates collections that range from serene birds symbolizing peace and connection, to playful animal portraits, to travel-inspired paintings that capture the feeling and memory of a place rather than just the landscape themselves.
What I love most about Erica's story is that she returned to art after stepping away for career and family life, realizing that creativity and her artistic talents were just something that she couldn't ignore. Since then, she's become an active part in the South Florida art community, exhibiting her work, creating public art, and helping people reconnect with emotion, stillness, and beauty through painting. In this conversation, we will talk about artistic intuition, self-expression, creative courage, and what it means to answer your calling. Go girl.
Erica Kyle, welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes! So happy to have you here today.
Erica Kyle (01:22)
Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.
Jackie Morreale (01:24)
I can't wait to find out more about you and about all the paintings that you have there behind you! Let's start with the basic stuff: Full name, where you're from, what you do, in your own words?
Erica Kyle (01:35)
My name is Erica Kyle. The question 'where you're from' sounds like it should be simple to answer, but I'm an army brat, so I'm from everywhere and nowhere. Grew up all around the world. I've been in the West Palm Beach area for almost 30 years now. I'm a full-time professional artist, acrylic painter, pastels, pencil drawings, I do all the things.
Jackie Morreale (01:54)
To have such an amazing, talented, force of nature, fine artist living right here in South Florida, in our midst among the normal like me. In a few words, what lights you up about what you do? What is your passion?
Erica Kyle (02:01)
I'm passionate about creating. I need to do it to fulfill whatever's churning in my soul. If I'm not doing it, I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. What I'm most passionate about is sharing it.
All of my work comes from a place of emotion. There's story to each of my paintings, and I want to share those stories with people. I want to give people a reason to slow down and to think and be reflective. Just a moment of calm, is what I'm passionate about delivering through my work.
Jackie Morreale (02:39)
If only we could all just have that moment of calm. Just look at an Erica Kyle painting and get that serenity now. It's exactly what the doctor ordered, all right there on the wall behind you. How many years have you been painting?
Erica Kyle (02:43)
We need it. Exactly. I've been creating all my life, but professionally, eight years ago, started incorporating it. 'Moonlighting.' I did have a career job for about 25 years. I was in the financial industry, and during that time, I feel like I've lived three different lives on that journey. I started doing this professionally as a moonlight to that. I used to say that my day job fed my family and my art job feeds my soul. That was a way for me to fulfill this need to be creating. About seven or eight years ago started doing it more professionally.
In the last two years, I finally left that corporate life, and a hundred percent went all in and get to do this.
Such a blessing.
This gets to be my life now. I pinch myself, it's crazy.
Jackie Morreale (03:37)
Not only for you, honestly, for everyone around you to see you living your dream. Inspiring the entire community and spreading those good vibes through art all around you. What is the favorite part of this current job of the two years full-time fine artist?
Erica Kyle (03:44)
There are so many things, so many things. My favorite is the autonomy of entrepreneurship, really is what it is. Not from a control standpoint, but the flexibility and the freedom, especially coming from that corporate structure.
This gives me that flexibility that I need to be a mom when I need to be a mom, and be home when I need to be home, and then create.
I have the freedom to do it and mental freedom, too.
I'm fully dedicated to doing this, delivering it in my vision, and in my voice.
That's been really fun for me. I feel like I have 'my thing.'
After doing the thing for somebody else in their vision and in their way.
You get to see what you can do when it's just all you.
Jackie Morreale (04:34)
Congratulations. It's a leap of faith, but I'm so happy that you took it. Your work is fantastic. 25 years in finance, nine to five plus, just drains all that energy from you. Then here you are moonlighting on top of it as an outlet. Now I'm sure you just pour all of yourself and then some into your pieces. Inspiration doesn't necessarily come between those boundaries of nine to five. I'm sure it spills over into all the time.
You mentioned being a mom. I'm sure your kids love to see you doing this and what you're going to come up with next?
Erica Kyle (04:59)
For sure. It's amazing how you don't realize how much of your mental space our job takes from us. Even when you're home, you're not present. The impact it's had on them to just live in a different space that way. They've certainly been impacted by it in a positive way. It’s been good.
Jackie Morreale (05:21)
Your legacy. Whole life changed through art.
Erica Kyle (05:23)
For them to see too, sometimes the risk is good to take.
Jackie Morreale (05:27)
Before we talk more about your art, quick-fire questions to find out more about you as a person, Erica Kyle, artist. Are you ready for this?
Erica Kyle (05:34)
Okay, go.
Jackie Morreale (05:35)
Coffee or tea while making art?
Erica Kyle (05:36)
Coffee. Sometimes wine. Depends on the time of the day. Later the evening gets, the wine pops open. Coffee in the morning. My two most creative points of the day!
Jackie Morreale (05:40)
Wine makes for more interesting art. Favorite place you've ever painted or photographed?
Erica Kyle (05:42)
That one's easy. Rome. Last year we did a big family trip to Italy. This painting, you can kind of see it behind me, the arch. We had one day where there was no agenda. Everyone had a free day.
I sat in the Borghese Gardens, on a tree stump. I painted for hours in my little travel sketchbook. That painting and so many other things I can't wait to get back to painting.
I wish I could live that moment every day; it was the best.
(Continued below)
Hello and welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks wise words in business, beauty and betterment. I am the host, Jackie Morreale.
Today's guest is Erica Kyle, founder of Erica Kyle Creations, a West Palm Beach-based artist whose work blends realism, impressionism, emotion, spirituality into deeply reflective visual storytelling. Inspired by French impressionism and the emotional language of color and brushwork in her paintings, Erica creates collections that range from serene birds symbolizing peace and connection, to playful animal portraits, to travel-inspired paintings that capture the feeling and memory of a place rather than just the landscape themselves.
What I love most about Erica's story is that she returned to art after stepping away for career and family life, realizing that creativity and her artistic talents were just something that she couldn't ignore. Since then, she's become an active part in the South Florida art community, exhibiting her work, creating public art, and helping people reconnect with emotion, stillness, and beauty through painting. In this conversation, we will talk about artistic intuition, self-expression, creative courage, and what it means to answer your calling. Go girl.
Erica Kyle, welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes! So happy to have you here today.
Erica Kyle (01:22)
Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.
Jackie Morreale (01:24)
I can't wait to find out more about you and about all the paintings that you have there behind you! Let's start with the basic stuff: Full name, where you're from, what you do, in your own words?
Erica Kyle (01:35)
My name is Erica Kyle. The question 'where you're from' sounds like it should be simple to answer, but I'm an army brat, so I'm from everywhere and nowhere. Grew up all around the world. I've been in the West Palm Beach area for almost 30 years now. I'm a full-time professional artist, acrylic painter, pastels, pencil drawings, I do all the things.
Jackie Morreale (01:54)
To have such an amazing, talented, force of nature, fine artist living right here in South Florida, in our midst among the normal like me. In a few words, what lights you up about what you do? What is your passion?
Erica Kyle (02:01)
I'm passionate about creating. I need to do it to fulfill whatever's churning in my soul. If I'm not doing it, I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. What I'm most passionate about is sharing it.
All of my work comes from a place of emotion. There's story to each of my paintings, and I want to share those stories with people. I want to give people a reason to slow down and to think and be reflective. Just a moment of calm, is what I'm passionate about delivering through my work.
Jackie Morreale (02:39)
If only we could all just have that moment of calm. Just look at an Erica Kyle painting and get that serenity now. It's exactly what the doctor ordered, all right there on the wall behind you. How many years have you been painting?
Erica Kyle (02:43)
We need it. Exactly. I've been creating all my life, but professionally, eight years ago, started incorporating it. 'Moonlighting.' I did have a career job for about 25 years. I was in the financial industry, and during that time, I feel like I've lived three different lives on that journey. I started doing this professionally as a moonlight to that. I used to say that my day job fed my family and my art job feeds my soul. That was a way for me to fulfill this need to be creating. About seven or eight years ago started doing it more professionally.
In the last two years, I finally left that corporate life, and a hundred percent went all in and get to do this.
Such a blessing.
This gets to be my life now. I pinch myself, it's crazy.
Jackie Morreale (03:37)
Not only for you, honestly, for everyone around you to see you living your dream. Inspiring the entire community and spreading those good vibes through art all around you. What is the favorite part of this current job of the two years full-time fine artist?
Erica Kyle (03:44)
There are so many things, so many things. My favorite is the autonomy of entrepreneurship, really is what it is. Not from a control standpoint, but the flexibility and the freedom, especially coming from that corporate structure.
This gives me that flexibility that I need to be a mom when I need to be a mom, and be home when I need to be home, and then create.
I have the freedom to do it and mental freedom, too.
I'm fully dedicated to doing this, delivering it in my vision, and in my voice.
That's been really fun for me. I feel like I have 'my thing.'
After doing the thing for somebody else in their vision and in their way.
You get to see what you can do when it's just all you.
Jackie Morreale (04:34)
Congratulations. It's a leap of faith, but I'm so happy that you took it. Your work is fantastic. 25 years in finance, nine to five plus, just drains all that energy from you. Then here you are moonlighting on top of it as an outlet. Now I'm sure you just pour all of yourself and then some into your pieces. Inspiration doesn't necessarily come between those boundaries of nine to five. I'm sure it spills over into all the time.
You mentioned being a mom. I'm sure your kids love to see you doing this and what you're going to come up with next?
Erica Kyle (04:59)
For sure. It's amazing how you don't realize how much of your mental space our job takes from us. Even when you're home, you're not present. The impact it's had on them to just live in a different space that way. They've certainly been impacted by it in a positive way. It’s been good.
Jackie Morreale (05:21)
Your legacy. Whole life changed through art.
Erica Kyle (05:23)
For them to see too, sometimes the risk is good to take.
Jackie Morreale (05:27)
Before we talk more about your art, quick-fire questions to find out more about you as a person, Erica Kyle, artist. Are you ready for this?
Erica Kyle (05:34)
Okay, go.
Jackie Morreale (05:35)
Coffee or tea while making art?
Erica Kyle (05:36)
Coffee. Sometimes wine. Depends on the time of the day. Later the evening gets, the wine pops open. Coffee in the morning. My two most creative points of the day!
Jackie Morreale (05:40)
Wine makes for more interesting art. Favorite place you've ever painted or photographed?
Erica Kyle (05:42)
That one's easy. Rome. Last year we did a big family trip to Italy. This painting, you can kind of see it behind me, the arch. We had one day where there was no agenda. Everyone had a free day.
I sat in the Borghese Gardens, on a tree stump. I painted for hours in my little travel sketchbook. That painting and so many other things I can't wait to get back to painting.
I wish I could live that moment every day; it was the best.
(Continued below)
Erica Kyle Paintings - Collection: Distant Memories
Giardino a Roma, by Erica Kyle
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Eiffel Tower, by Erica Kyle
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La Macchina Rossa, by Erica Kyle
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(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (06:13)
It sounds like you're making things happen for you. Who knows? Maybe you'll have more of that in your future.
Erica Kyle (06:16)
I hope so. My sketchbook still has room to fill.
Jackie Morreale (06:22)
One artist, living or dead, who you would love to have dinner with?
Erica Kyle (06:25)
Claude Monet. I love French Impressionism. He was the first artist that I gravitated to. I had an opportunity to see his house and garden in France, which is amazing. I would love to chat with him and hear all his stories.
Jackie Morreale (06:38)
Early in life, or late in life? When he started to lose his vision and started to see a little differently?
Erica Kyle (06:38)
That fascinates me. The drive and the need that creators have to paint, no matter how your vision fails, which is such a big part of painting, but you still find a way because you have to.
I would love to hear from his perspective; how that was, how that felt for him, and how to push through that.
Some of my favorite work was from that period, which is even more interesting.
Jackie Morreale (07:01)
We rely so heavily on vision, to lose that without losing your identity, without losing your ability to create, it's amazing. Just find a way.
Do you listen to music while you paint or do you paint in silence?
Erica Kyle (07:09)
All the time music. It drives what I'm working on. If it's serene or a fun little critter, I have curated playlist ready to help the momentum of the emotion that I need to put into the piece.
Jackie Morreale (07:32)
You need to share your Spotify playlist. Are you a musician?
Erica Kyle (07:35)
No, I'm not. My youngest son is, so he got the creative gene that way. But I love music, it's inspiring.
Jackie Morreale (07:41)
What color do you most connect with?
Erica Kyle (07:45)
Payne's Gray is a color that is in every single one of my paintings. It's this beautiful shade of deep blue. It's navy with gray tones. It's the most peaceful, calming color.
Jackie Morreale (07:58)
Like that, in the painting right behind you? Is that Payne's Gray, the background tone?
Erica Kyle (08:02)
It likely is. A lot of times, when it looks like black, it's never black for me. It's always Payne's mixed with something different, to get the darkness.
Jackie Morreale (08:11)
I just spotted the Eiffel Tower too. Wow, you have Rome, Paris. Beautiful.
Erica Kyle (08:16)
I always keep my travel sketchbook with me. I'll see something and I'll want to remember it in a certain angle. I'll sketch it out quickly or take a quick photo. I love to come back and paint them.
Jackie Morreale (08:26)
What is the most underrated quality for an artist?
Erica Kyle (08:29)
The business mindset, business acumen. It's so much more than being able to paint or draw something well. It's a business that you run when you're a professional artist. Artists don't realize how important that part is to being successful in it.
Jackie Morreale (08:45)
You said that was your favorite part, right? The autonomy of it, the entrepreneurial part of it. That's amazing that you're able to balance the scales of business and art.
Erica Kyle (08:48)
One of my executives in my old banking world said the same thing to me. They all knew I was an artist, too. He was like, 'I find it fascinating that you can use both your right and left side of your brain the same.' I never thought of it that way. Both things come naturally. It's fun to put it together now in this life that I get to live.
I feel like I’m in full blossom. I get to use everything I know and have learned and put it together to make something, hopefully something beautiful.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (06:13)
It sounds like you're making things happen for you. Who knows? Maybe you'll have more of that in your future.
Erica Kyle (06:16)
I hope so. My sketchbook still has room to fill.
Jackie Morreale (06:22)
One artist, living or dead, who you would love to have dinner with?
Erica Kyle (06:25)
Claude Monet. I love French Impressionism. He was the first artist that I gravitated to. I had an opportunity to see his house and garden in France, which is amazing. I would love to chat with him and hear all his stories.
Jackie Morreale (06:38)
Early in life, or late in life? When he started to lose his vision and started to see a little differently?
Erica Kyle (06:38)
That fascinates me. The drive and the need that creators have to paint, no matter how your vision fails, which is such a big part of painting, but you still find a way because you have to.
I would love to hear from his perspective; how that was, how that felt for him, and how to push through that.
Some of my favorite work was from that period, which is even more interesting.
Jackie Morreale (07:01)
We rely so heavily on vision, to lose that without losing your identity, without losing your ability to create, it's amazing. Just find a way.
Do you listen to music while you paint or do you paint in silence?
Erica Kyle (07:09)
All the time music. It drives what I'm working on. If it's serene or a fun little critter, I have curated playlist ready to help the momentum of the emotion that I need to put into the piece.
Jackie Morreale (07:32)
You need to share your Spotify playlist. Are you a musician?
Erica Kyle (07:35)
No, I'm not. My youngest son is, so he got the creative gene that way. But I love music, it's inspiring.
Jackie Morreale (07:41)
What color do you most connect with?
Erica Kyle (07:45)
Payne's Gray is a color that is in every single one of my paintings. It's this beautiful shade of deep blue. It's navy with gray tones. It's the most peaceful, calming color.
Jackie Morreale (07:58)
Like that, in the painting right behind you? Is that Payne's Gray, the background tone?
Erica Kyle (08:02)
It likely is. A lot of times, when it looks like black, it's never black for me. It's always Payne's mixed with something different, to get the darkness.
Jackie Morreale (08:11)
I just spotted the Eiffel Tower too. Wow, you have Rome, Paris. Beautiful.
Erica Kyle (08:16)
I always keep my travel sketchbook with me. I'll see something and I'll want to remember it in a certain angle. I'll sketch it out quickly or take a quick photo. I love to come back and paint them.
Jackie Morreale (08:26)
What is the most underrated quality for an artist?
Erica Kyle (08:29)
The business mindset, business acumen. It's so much more than being able to paint or draw something well. It's a business that you run when you're a professional artist. Artists don't realize how important that part is to being successful in it.
Jackie Morreale (08:45)
You said that was your favorite part, right? The autonomy of it, the entrepreneurial part of it. That's amazing that you're able to balance the scales of business and art.
Erica Kyle (08:48)
One of my executives in my old banking world said the same thing to me. They all knew I was an artist, too. He was like, 'I find it fascinating that you can use both your right and left side of your brain the same.' I never thought of it that way. Both things come naturally. It's fun to put it together now in this life that I get to live.
I feel like I’m in full blossom. I get to use everything I know and have learned and put it together to make something, hopefully something beautiful.
(Continued below)
Erica Kyle Paintings - Collection: Luminous Wings
Intuition, by Erica Kyle (with the artist)
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Hope, by Erica Kyle
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Be Still (2), by Erica Kyle (with the artist)
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(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (09:15)
Good for you. It sounds like your folks in finance are also very supportive, which is great.
Erica Kyle (09:20)
Always have been. While I was there and now seeing where my journey has taken me since I left. It's nice to have the support.
Jackie Morreale (09:26)
When you have a colleague with talent, you can't help but be happy when they find their path. That's the best.
Erica Kyle (09:29)
Celebrate it. When someone finds their path, no matter where it is, we should celebrate it.
Jackie Morreale (09:36)
Agree. Even if they miss you like crazy, which I'm sure they do.
What is one word you hope people feel when they see your art?
Erica Kyle (09:42)
Calm. I want them to feel at peace, feel calm. A moment of quiet. Our lives get so chaotic. It's so important to slow down and feel that reset and that rest in your heart. We need it.
Jackie Morreale (09:53)
It’s what you exude, your vibe as well. You're very serene, calm. You're on your path, enjoying the present. Am I wrong?
Erica Kyle (10:01)
You're right. I am! I appreciate that you notice it. Part of my journey was getting to this point.
It wasn't always this way, to live in the present.
Life is short, but life is long at the same time, and we have to enjoy it.
There's joy everywhere and we have to find it.
That always leads you back to peace.
The biggest compliment, the most fulfilling moments of my life, are when people feel peace in the presence of whatever I've created.
Jackie Morreale (10:23)
You must have a very Zen home. Your space, Studio Two, has a very peaceful, Zen vibe.
Erica Kyle (10:29)
Thank you. People come in here and they'll say, ‘I like being in here.’ They feel calm and at peace and they don't want to leave. That's huge compliment. I'm like, 'Enjoy the art or take a piece home and feel the peace there, too!'
Jackie Morreale (10:41)
The business hat goes on, right? Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it, it's amazing.
What is something that you're still learning as a fine artist?
Erica Kyle (10:45)
I'm always learning to trust 'the ugly middle.' If you are an artist or have seen an artist in process, we go from this great idea, it's beautifully sketched out.
Then you have to start blocking all your colors in, before you can get to all the fun, pretty details. There's somewhere in there where it's ugly. It still frustrates me that that must exist and that I can't jump from idea to pretty.
My husband has learned this. I was painting at home. He'd see me get really frustrated, he's like, 'You know what happens? I've seen it enough now that I know what happens at the end.'
It's still a frustrating part of the process that is necessary because you have to do all the layers to get the pretty.
I'm constantly learning to shut that part of my brain off. It's okay, you'll get there.
Jackie Morreale (11:35)
It's so funny that you said ‘the ugly middle,' as an artist, because it's a metaphor for life, really. We're all in the ugly middle of something. It doesn't have to be on canvas. It's so hard to realize there's going to be a beautiful detail that completes this someday, in the near future.
You're looking at blocked colors – and kids schedules and work and stress – and you're like, 'It's ugly!' But it's what makes the product beautiful at the end of the day. I'm getting emotional talking about this.
Erica Kyle (11:58)
You're so right. That is a message in a lot of my work. We're constantly in this state of transition or these 'ugly middle' parts of life. But they lead to somewhere peaceful or somewhere joyful.
I also blog; I'm a writer, that's how we met. My personal blog often reflections about how do we take all of the imperfect, ugly parts of our story and turn them into something beautiful?
That journey always exists and we just have to see it and trust that process, that it's going to lead there. That’s everything I do.
Jackie Morreale (12:40)
I want to leave a quick shout out to you, as a writer. Your work has been published as part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, based on your military experiences, and you also have your wonderful blog at ericakylecreations.com. Shout out to this multidisciplinary, multi-talented fine artist that I'm speaking to right now, Erica Kyle. She can do anything!
Erica Kyle (12:45)
I'm going to be a second published author in August. I'm doing another book for Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Jackie Morreale (13:09)
What’s the focus of this particular one? I know there's many in the series.
Erica Kyle (13:13)
The first one I did was military life, what that experience was from a military family perspective. The one coming is about dogs. It's called Best Dog Ever. My story in it is about a dog that I lost too soon in her little life, and rescuing the new dogs that are now with us. The same theme of your ugly middle story, leading to something beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (13:33)
I can't wait to read it.
I know that you paint dogs, too. You have one very tall dog. Is that the dog in the story?
Erica Kyle (13:37)
And a very long dog. It is not.
People come into the studio, and I love to watch their reaction because they're so silly, those two dogs I have in here. They smile right away and the first thing they ask me is, 'Are these your actual dogs?' I do not own Dotsons. I have big dogs, but the little dogs just have to be created.
Jackie Morreale (13:55)
They're like characters. Finish this sentence. 'Art has the power to…’?
Erica Kyle (13:56)
Art has the power to change your perspective. People come into my studio, they have an initial reaction to a piece, which is never wrong. What you see in a piece of art is what's in your heart at that moment. When you hear the artist’s statement or the artist’s story behind what inspired the piece, suddenly you see it differently.
You start to see the color choice was so intentional here, the composition of how these things came together. Then you start to go deeper. Why did you do this? It changes the perspective of what you see and what it all means.
It's awesome for me to experience that with people live when they come in.
Jackie Morreale (14:35)
What you said before about being in Rome with your family, in Borghese Garden. The view you had was all about your perspective, right? Standing underneath it, having a beautiful sky, having this serene free day with your family while on vacation, with your favorite people in another country. It's all about perspective. Even if you're not the one creating art and just appreciating it, seeing what you have in your own heart is a beautiful thing that art invokes in all of us.
Erica Kyle (15:02)
When people come in, they see a piece and it moves them in some way, or it changes their perspective of something. I say, 'Art did its job.' That's what it's here to do. It's beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (15:11)
Favorite book? And it could be yours.
Erica Kyle (15:15)
Ernest Hemingway. I've read every single one of his books. For Whom the Bell Tolls. I've read that one two or three times. I keep going back to it. Everything he writes though is my favorite has such an authentic voice.
Jackie Morreale (15:25)
Are you a fan of the Keys, since we're kind of close? Hemingway had a house in Key West.
Erica Kyle (15:30)
Yes. It still exists! It's a museum with all the cats. I had to go there after my husband and I read all of his books together. We were like, 'Let's go to Key West and do a little Hemingway journey.’
Jackie Morreale (15:39)
I hope you painted. I can't wait to see what his words would be on canvas to you.
Erica Kyle (15:44)
I did not. But now I need to go back, read them all again, spend some time in the Keys painting.
Jackie Morreale (15:48)
You need to go back, yes.
Favorite quote for life? It could be from Hemingway.
Erica Kyle (15:54)
My favorite quote for life: ‘Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.' That goes back to finding those moments of peace and joy.
I went through a very difficult period of life, as we all do. That's when I found that quote and it became my mantra. I needed that to remind me to keep looking for the good. Even though days were heavy, there was always something good that you can appreciate. I still live by that.
Jackie Morreale (16:21)
I hope you have a whole bunch of post-its on your mirror and in the kitchen and in the studio; little reminders of what those amazing things are in the ugly middle, because you're right, they exist everywhere.
Erica Kyle (16:31)
Once you start noticing them, it became so natural to always notice them. I didn't have to try anymore or remember the quote staring at my face to remind me. It just becomes a natural part of who you are. And life changes. It's beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (16:41)
It sounds like so much abundance has hit you since you decided to take this leap of faith and do your thing. Now your work is all over the place, in galleries and restaurant walls and homes and just taking over the world. It's so amazing to choose to see them along the way.
Erica Kyle (17:05)
It's paying attention to your gift, how that gift serves its purpose, and letting that lead your life. It can be anyone's story. You don't have to be an artist to have the abundance of joy that you spread.
It's wherever you are meant to be. It's paying attention to that passion and let that lead you.
The joy and beauty come from what that does inside of you when you get to live it so authentically. It's meant to exist in your life, where it leads you.
Jackie Morreale (17:31)
That authenticity is contagious, right? That is what inspires other people to find whatever it is in them and do it.
Erica Kyle (17:36)
Everyone's got something. You just have to dig for it. Sometimes we got to dig for the ugly middle. It all adds up to something in the end.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (09:15)
Good for you. It sounds like your folks in finance are also very supportive, which is great.
Erica Kyle (09:20)
Always have been. While I was there and now seeing where my journey has taken me since I left. It's nice to have the support.
Jackie Morreale (09:26)
When you have a colleague with talent, you can't help but be happy when they find their path. That's the best.
Erica Kyle (09:29)
Celebrate it. When someone finds their path, no matter where it is, we should celebrate it.
Jackie Morreale (09:36)
Agree. Even if they miss you like crazy, which I'm sure they do.
What is one word you hope people feel when they see your art?
Erica Kyle (09:42)
Calm. I want them to feel at peace, feel calm. A moment of quiet. Our lives get so chaotic. It's so important to slow down and feel that reset and that rest in your heart. We need it.
Jackie Morreale (09:53)
It’s what you exude, your vibe as well. You're very serene, calm. You're on your path, enjoying the present. Am I wrong?
Erica Kyle (10:01)
You're right. I am! I appreciate that you notice it. Part of my journey was getting to this point.
It wasn't always this way, to live in the present.
Life is short, but life is long at the same time, and we have to enjoy it.
There's joy everywhere and we have to find it.
That always leads you back to peace.
The biggest compliment, the most fulfilling moments of my life, are when people feel peace in the presence of whatever I've created.
Jackie Morreale (10:23)
You must have a very Zen home. Your space, Studio Two, has a very peaceful, Zen vibe.
Erica Kyle (10:29)
Thank you. People come in here and they'll say, ‘I like being in here.’ They feel calm and at peace and they don't want to leave. That's huge compliment. I'm like, 'Enjoy the art or take a piece home and feel the peace there, too!'
Jackie Morreale (10:41)
The business hat goes on, right? Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it, it's amazing.
What is something that you're still learning as a fine artist?
Erica Kyle (10:45)
I'm always learning to trust 'the ugly middle.' If you are an artist or have seen an artist in process, we go from this great idea, it's beautifully sketched out.
Then you have to start blocking all your colors in, before you can get to all the fun, pretty details. There's somewhere in there where it's ugly. It still frustrates me that that must exist and that I can't jump from idea to pretty.
My husband has learned this. I was painting at home. He'd see me get really frustrated, he's like, 'You know what happens? I've seen it enough now that I know what happens at the end.'
It's still a frustrating part of the process that is necessary because you have to do all the layers to get the pretty.
I'm constantly learning to shut that part of my brain off. It's okay, you'll get there.
Jackie Morreale (11:35)
It's so funny that you said ‘the ugly middle,' as an artist, because it's a metaphor for life, really. We're all in the ugly middle of something. It doesn't have to be on canvas. It's so hard to realize there's going to be a beautiful detail that completes this someday, in the near future.
You're looking at blocked colors – and kids schedules and work and stress – and you're like, 'It's ugly!' But it's what makes the product beautiful at the end of the day. I'm getting emotional talking about this.
Erica Kyle (11:58)
You're so right. That is a message in a lot of my work. We're constantly in this state of transition or these 'ugly middle' parts of life. But they lead to somewhere peaceful or somewhere joyful.
I also blog; I'm a writer, that's how we met. My personal blog often reflections about how do we take all of the imperfect, ugly parts of our story and turn them into something beautiful?
That journey always exists and we just have to see it and trust that process, that it's going to lead there. That’s everything I do.
Jackie Morreale (12:40)
I want to leave a quick shout out to you, as a writer. Your work has been published as part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, based on your military experiences, and you also have your wonderful blog at ericakylecreations.com. Shout out to this multidisciplinary, multi-talented fine artist that I'm speaking to right now, Erica Kyle. She can do anything!
Erica Kyle (12:45)
I'm going to be a second published author in August. I'm doing another book for Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Jackie Morreale (13:09)
What’s the focus of this particular one? I know there's many in the series.
Erica Kyle (13:13)
The first one I did was military life, what that experience was from a military family perspective. The one coming is about dogs. It's called Best Dog Ever. My story in it is about a dog that I lost too soon in her little life, and rescuing the new dogs that are now with us. The same theme of your ugly middle story, leading to something beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (13:33)
I can't wait to read it.
I know that you paint dogs, too. You have one very tall dog. Is that the dog in the story?
Erica Kyle (13:37)
And a very long dog. It is not.
People come into the studio, and I love to watch their reaction because they're so silly, those two dogs I have in here. They smile right away and the first thing they ask me is, 'Are these your actual dogs?' I do not own Dotsons. I have big dogs, but the little dogs just have to be created.
Jackie Morreale (13:55)
They're like characters. Finish this sentence. 'Art has the power to…’?
Erica Kyle (13:56)
Art has the power to change your perspective. People come into my studio, they have an initial reaction to a piece, which is never wrong. What you see in a piece of art is what's in your heart at that moment. When you hear the artist’s statement or the artist’s story behind what inspired the piece, suddenly you see it differently.
You start to see the color choice was so intentional here, the composition of how these things came together. Then you start to go deeper. Why did you do this? It changes the perspective of what you see and what it all means.
It's awesome for me to experience that with people live when they come in.
Jackie Morreale (14:35)
What you said before about being in Rome with your family, in Borghese Garden. The view you had was all about your perspective, right? Standing underneath it, having a beautiful sky, having this serene free day with your family while on vacation, with your favorite people in another country. It's all about perspective. Even if you're not the one creating art and just appreciating it, seeing what you have in your own heart is a beautiful thing that art invokes in all of us.
Erica Kyle (15:02)
When people come in, they see a piece and it moves them in some way, or it changes their perspective of something. I say, 'Art did its job.' That's what it's here to do. It's beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (15:11)
Favorite book? And it could be yours.
Erica Kyle (15:15)
Ernest Hemingway. I've read every single one of his books. For Whom the Bell Tolls. I've read that one two or three times. I keep going back to it. Everything he writes though is my favorite has such an authentic voice.
Jackie Morreale (15:25)
Are you a fan of the Keys, since we're kind of close? Hemingway had a house in Key West.
Erica Kyle (15:30)
Yes. It still exists! It's a museum with all the cats. I had to go there after my husband and I read all of his books together. We were like, 'Let's go to Key West and do a little Hemingway journey.’
Jackie Morreale (15:39)
I hope you painted. I can't wait to see what his words would be on canvas to you.
Erica Kyle (15:44)
I did not. But now I need to go back, read them all again, spend some time in the Keys painting.
Jackie Morreale (15:48)
You need to go back, yes.
Favorite quote for life? It could be from Hemingway.
Erica Kyle (15:54)
My favorite quote for life: ‘Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.' That goes back to finding those moments of peace and joy.
I went through a very difficult period of life, as we all do. That's when I found that quote and it became my mantra. I needed that to remind me to keep looking for the good. Even though days were heavy, there was always something good that you can appreciate. I still live by that.
Jackie Morreale (16:21)
I hope you have a whole bunch of post-its on your mirror and in the kitchen and in the studio; little reminders of what those amazing things are in the ugly middle, because you're right, they exist everywhere.
Erica Kyle (16:31)
Once you start noticing them, it became so natural to always notice them. I didn't have to try anymore or remember the quote staring at my face to remind me. It just becomes a natural part of who you are. And life changes. It's beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (16:41)
It sounds like so much abundance has hit you since you decided to take this leap of faith and do your thing. Now your work is all over the place, in galleries and restaurant walls and homes and just taking over the world. It's so amazing to choose to see them along the way.
Erica Kyle (17:05)
It's paying attention to your gift, how that gift serves its purpose, and letting that lead your life. It can be anyone's story. You don't have to be an artist to have the abundance of joy that you spread.
It's wherever you are meant to be. It's paying attention to that passion and let that lead you.
The joy and beauty come from what that does inside of you when you get to live it so authentically. It's meant to exist in your life, where it leads you.
Jackie Morreale (17:31)
That authenticity is contagious, right? That is what inspires other people to find whatever it is in them and do it.
Erica Kyle (17:36)
Everyone's got something. You just have to dig for it. Sometimes we got to dig for the ugly middle. It all adds up to something in the end.
(Continued below)
Erica Kyle Paintings - Collection: Luminous Wings
A Passing Moment, by Erica Kyle
|
Calling, by Erica Kyle
|
Stillness, by Erica Kyle
|
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (17:41)
Exactly. Let's talk more about inspiration for your art.
I don't mean to quote you to you, but: 'When I can't express myself in words, I turn to art.' Beautiful line, by the way. That might be my favorite quote for life.
They also say that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Would you say that art is your emotional language?
Erica Kyle (17:56)
Yes. I do lead with emotion when I'm creating something. When there's the big, heavy, difficult parts of life, which we all have, no matter how joyful we are, we still have to go through the thing.
When those are the heaviest, I just have to disappear into a painting.
For me, the emotional language is color. There is a direct correlation of color tied to our emotion. Some people have negative, but sometimes it's joyful. When you look at something it pulls what's in your heart. That evokes the emotion.
There was a painting I had in here, it's called A Passing Moment. I loved having that piece hanging in the studio because people would come in and immediately have an emotional reaction to it. It sparked a lot of conversation; art did its job with that piece.
One woman came in. I greet everybody who comes in the space, but that's all I did; we didn't really speak otherwise. When she got to that piece, she was silent and then she turned around and looked at me with tears in her eyes and she said, 'I needed to see that painting.' She was very emotional about it.
That's the power of the visual more than words, sometimes.
We can't articulate what we're feeling, but when you see it, you know, without having to say anything else.
That was a really powerful moment for me. I felt like... I won life, honestly.
Jackie Morreale (19:13)
What else is there?
Erica Kyle (19:14)
Yes, what else is there? You made someone feel something so deeply, and it was a hopeful feeling. The piece was about hope in a passing moment of uncertainty.
For her to feel that strongly, I just needed to see that and know that hope existed in some way. It gave her a pep. For sure, emotional language.
Jackie Morreale (19:33)
I hope she brought her checkbook too, because it sounds like she needs that every day in her at home.
Erica Kyle (19:37)
I have prints of it now, but somebody else who also very much needed it in their life owns it and lives happily in their home.
Jackie Morreale (19:43)
That makes me happy. When art has a good home, that's important, too.
You were inspired by French Impressionists from a young age, like Claude Monet. What about that style, his style, connects you to it?
Erica Kyle (19:48)
There's something very soft and delicate when I look at Impressionism. When I was in high school, my art teacher had all Impressionism artists on the wall. Where I sat, my direct view was all the Impressionism. I would just stare at them because I think the softness made me feel calm.
The colors are always calm. I never feel super energized by an impressionistic painting. The brush strokes and texture in perceived detail. There's always something to discover. The piece never gets old to look at for me when it's impressionism.
Jackie Morreale (20:30)
Was there a defining moment when you decided to take this talent that you've always had to paint, to create, and make it into Eric Kyle Creations?
Erica Kyle (20:40)
There were probably a couple of moments because all the puzzle pieces have to fit together to get to the one moment where you finally take the leap. Painting and creating has always been something I did. Then when I had kids, all of a sudden, you have no time. All of your time is taking care of them, which is beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (20:54)
Right, it's the best.
Erica Kyle (20:57)
But it does strip a little bit of you. It's an important job to have and I loved every moment of it. Around the end of elementary school, certainly middle school, they don't need you so much anymore. Their independence is important, but it makes the mom feel a little empty because all those years, it's them, them, them.
It's like, ‘My kid doesn't need me anymore. Who am I? What is life?’ I remember having the conversation with my husband of how uncomfortable that feels.
He said, 'You need to find your thing now to start filling that freedom with.'
My oldest went to college last I was so happy I had this because it's not as hard as I know it would have been if I didn't have my thing.
That's what started Erica Kyle Creations, probably in that moment.
Started me picking up art again because I hadn't done it all that time. I missed it, always, but I just reprioritized. I just started again, like, 'Let me see if I even remember how to draw.'
As we all get to some place in our job of feeling unfulfilled for whatever reason. I would always be pulled back to something creative. That became my moonlighting of just stick with this career path that you built. I enjoyed it in part, but there was always something in there that I wasn't fully fulfilled with.
That's when I started doing Erica Kyle creations more professionally. Creating when I could, exhibiting, websites, selling all these things. When I left the corporate world, that was the defining moment. 25 years was always my bookmark of that feels like enough time to dedicate to a career. I always said at some milestone, I'm going to need to step back and do the thing I want to do.
I finally took that leap but still didn't know what the next chapter would look like.
I knew I wanted to paint, but I actually was going to give up painting. I said to my husband, 'I think I'm just going to stop painting.' I wasn't doing anything with it. I had all these paintings sit in the loft because I wasn't promoting it, I wasn't exhibiting. It feels like a waste. Maybe there's something else I need to do.
He is my biggest supporter, my biggest fan. This was a shock to him.
Jackie Morreale (22:55)
Is he an artist too? He gets it.
Erica Kyle (22:57)
He's not but he knows how important this is always in my life. He gave me the space to figure it out. I'm like, 'I need to disappear for three days and paint.' Ironically, because here I am saying I'm not going to paint anymore.
This is my process, when I have that heavy, I have to paint it out. It's the only way I can get through it.
I did, disappeared into the garage and made a little studio in there just to remove myself from distraction. I just painted. That series of work that I did, it's called My Luminous Wings, is the series name.
I re-emerged, and the next conversation I had with my husband was, 'I'm going to go find an art studio.'
I went zero to a hundred!
What I realized through that process was art had come and gone in my life in fragments, but I had never had the opportunity nor taken the time to fully dedicate to it.
I hadn't done it fully. This is the time. Do the thing. Go all in.
Don't just paint because you have free time in between errands. Make it the thing and do it a hundred percent. Go find a studio so you don't have the distraction.
That decision launched me; identifying and fully embracing myself as an artist.
It happened at that moment. There was a change inside of me because I got to live it fully.
Jackie Morreale (24:09)
You're still painting birds too. You just did an owl.
Erica Kyle (24:12)
My owl was the last piece I needed for that series. I held on to those birds because I transformed in the making of that series.
Each one of those birds is a reflection of what I needed to get through that transition and understanding my calling and my purpose and where it's supposed to lead me. They're each a little bit of peace that I found along the way.
They're painted in dark tones, which is intentional because that's how I felt in those moments.
I paint from emotion and I choose the colors that are where I'm at in that moment.
The birds are the light at the end of that darkness.
Jackie Morreale (24:52)
I hope that you're still painting in your garage as well as your studio, because it sounds like there's some magic there.
Erica Kyle (24:55)
I do. I always have something at home that I'm always working on at the same time.
The owl is intuition and wisdom. That was an important part of that cycle was tapping into my intuition and trusting it.
That's why the owl had to be the final piece, because that's where it takes you is the intuition.
Jackie Morreale (25:14)
The owl painting is reflecting wisdom gained from trusting yourself. There's so much there! Are you now willing to part with some of the collection?
Erica Kyle (25:19)
I'll say they've always been for sale, but secretly I didn't want them to leave. Finishing the series with that piece, I feel ready now. That was a chapter in this journey that led me here.
Jackie Morreale (25:33)
Let's talk more about the birds. Animals often appear in your work as spiritual symbols. What draws you to animals, specifically?
Erica Kyle (25:38)
There's a connection with nature, which connects to the spiritual part of it as well. Every morning I spend the world wakes up, I go outside.
Connecting with nature, particularly early in the morning, it's the most peaceful part of a day. I'm barefoot in the grass, I walk through my garden, I check on my flowers. I do yoga under this big giant tree I have. I'll sit there and I just watch the birds.
It feels like the closest you can get to God; nothing is more pure and natural than nature.
It's here before us and it'll be here when we're gone.
It'll regrow in all of its beautiful, imperfect ways.
That starts my day in peace, which I need to carry through all the chaos that happens as the day unfolds.
That's why I often paint birds. They are peace for me, and remind me that life is more than the little world I've created for myself. It's not about me or selling art.
There's more. Birds are constant reminders of the bigger picture. I have a playful critter series. The giraffes, the raccoons, the dogs. They just bring me joy.
It is so relatable. If you ever watch videos of a mama bear, chasing her little cubs around, and it's just pure chaos.
Jackie Morreale (26:47)
Us every day, right?
Erica Kyle (26:50)
Every day. Every mom is the same. Every kid is the same. No matter your species, the culture. The most innocent, pure, joyful presence of living is when you see a little critter or a small child.
Jackie Morreale (27:03)
I think everyone should have a morning routine like you. Go outside, ground, bare feet, yoga under a tree.
Erica Kyle (27:07)
Five minutes.
Jackie Morreale (27:08)
Five minutes! Listen to the birds, think about the bigger picture that's going to exist forever beyond us. I love everything that you said. I don't even want to translate it into my own words because you did such a good job.
When you were in your corporate life for twenty-five years, you built this thriving career as an executive woman in banking. Was any component of that role creative? You just ooze artistry. I'm just curious how you kept it in for all those years.
Erica Kyle (27:38)
I hate math, which is so weird that I ended up in banking. But there wasn't a lot of math in it. I think creatively, yes. Creative problem solving, but there's also that other side of my brain, that business part of it, the analytical.
Jackie Morreale (27:46)
Problem solving.
Erica Kyle (27:51)
There's a connection there. It exists somehow.
Jackie Morreale (27:53)
It exists. You're going to figure out a way to do business creatively and solve problems that no one else can.
Erica Kyle (27:59)
You've got to be able to step outside of a problem that maybe you or your team created. There's some creativity there. It's also that balance of the more analytical and business minded part of me.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (17:41)
Exactly. Let's talk more about inspiration for your art.
I don't mean to quote you to you, but: 'When I can't express myself in words, I turn to art.' Beautiful line, by the way. That might be my favorite quote for life.
They also say that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Would you say that art is your emotional language?
Erica Kyle (17:56)
Yes. I do lead with emotion when I'm creating something. When there's the big, heavy, difficult parts of life, which we all have, no matter how joyful we are, we still have to go through the thing.
When those are the heaviest, I just have to disappear into a painting.
For me, the emotional language is color. There is a direct correlation of color tied to our emotion. Some people have negative, but sometimes it's joyful. When you look at something it pulls what's in your heart. That evokes the emotion.
There was a painting I had in here, it's called A Passing Moment. I loved having that piece hanging in the studio because people would come in and immediately have an emotional reaction to it. It sparked a lot of conversation; art did its job with that piece.
One woman came in. I greet everybody who comes in the space, but that's all I did; we didn't really speak otherwise. When she got to that piece, she was silent and then she turned around and looked at me with tears in her eyes and she said, 'I needed to see that painting.' She was very emotional about it.
That's the power of the visual more than words, sometimes.
We can't articulate what we're feeling, but when you see it, you know, without having to say anything else.
That was a really powerful moment for me. I felt like... I won life, honestly.
Jackie Morreale (19:13)
What else is there?
Erica Kyle (19:14)
Yes, what else is there? You made someone feel something so deeply, and it was a hopeful feeling. The piece was about hope in a passing moment of uncertainty.
For her to feel that strongly, I just needed to see that and know that hope existed in some way. It gave her a pep. For sure, emotional language.
Jackie Morreale (19:33)
I hope she brought her checkbook too, because it sounds like she needs that every day in her at home.
Erica Kyle (19:37)
I have prints of it now, but somebody else who also very much needed it in their life owns it and lives happily in their home.
Jackie Morreale (19:43)
That makes me happy. When art has a good home, that's important, too.
You were inspired by French Impressionists from a young age, like Claude Monet. What about that style, his style, connects you to it?
Erica Kyle (19:48)
There's something very soft and delicate when I look at Impressionism. When I was in high school, my art teacher had all Impressionism artists on the wall. Where I sat, my direct view was all the Impressionism. I would just stare at them because I think the softness made me feel calm.
The colors are always calm. I never feel super energized by an impressionistic painting. The brush strokes and texture in perceived detail. There's always something to discover. The piece never gets old to look at for me when it's impressionism.
Jackie Morreale (20:30)
Was there a defining moment when you decided to take this talent that you've always had to paint, to create, and make it into Eric Kyle Creations?
Erica Kyle (20:40)
There were probably a couple of moments because all the puzzle pieces have to fit together to get to the one moment where you finally take the leap. Painting and creating has always been something I did. Then when I had kids, all of a sudden, you have no time. All of your time is taking care of them, which is beautiful.
Jackie Morreale (20:54)
Right, it's the best.
Erica Kyle (20:57)
But it does strip a little bit of you. It's an important job to have and I loved every moment of it. Around the end of elementary school, certainly middle school, they don't need you so much anymore. Their independence is important, but it makes the mom feel a little empty because all those years, it's them, them, them.
It's like, ‘My kid doesn't need me anymore. Who am I? What is life?’ I remember having the conversation with my husband of how uncomfortable that feels.
He said, 'You need to find your thing now to start filling that freedom with.'
My oldest went to college last I was so happy I had this because it's not as hard as I know it would have been if I didn't have my thing.
That's what started Erica Kyle Creations, probably in that moment.
Started me picking up art again because I hadn't done it all that time. I missed it, always, but I just reprioritized. I just started again, like, 'Let me see if I even remember how to draw.'
As we all get to some place in our job of feeling unfulfilled for whatever reason. I would always be pulled back to something creative. That became my moonlighting of just stick with this career path that you built. I enjoyed it in part, but there was always something in there that I wasn't fully fulfilled with.
That's when I started doing Erica Kyle creations more professionally. Creating when I could, exhibiting, websites, selling all these things. When I left the corporate world, that was the defining moment. 25 years was always my bookmark of that feels like enough time to dedicate to a career. I always said at some milestone, I'm going to need to step back and do the thing I want to do.
I finally took that leap but still didn't know what the next chapter would look like.
I knew I wanted to paint, but I actually was going to give up painting. I said to my husband, 'I think I'm just going to stop painting.' I wasn't doing anything with it. I had all these paintings sit in the loft because I wasn't promoting it, I wasn't exhibiting. It feels like a waste. Maybe there's something else I need to do.
He is my biggest supporter, my biggest fan. This was a shock to him.
Jackie Morreale (22:55)
Is he an artist too? He gets it.
Erica Kyle (22:57)
He's not but he knows how important this is always in my life. He gave me the space to figure it out. I'm like, 'I need to disappear for three days and paint.' Ironically, because here I am saying I'm not going to paint anymore.
This is my process, when I have that heavy, I have to paint it out. It's the only way I can get through it.
I did, disappeared into the garage and made a little studio in there just to remove myself from distraction. I just painted. That series of work that I did, it's called My Luminous Wings, is the series name.
I re-emerged, and the next conversation I had with my husband was, 'I'm going to go find an art studio.'
I went zero to a hundred!
What I realized through that process was art had come and gone in my life in fragments, but I had never had the opportunity nor taken the time to fully dedicate to it.
I hadn't done it fully. This is the time. Do the thing. Go all in.
Don't just paint because you have free time in between errands. Make it the thing and do it a hundred percent. Go find a studio so you don't have the distraction.
That decision launched me; identifying and fully embracing myself as an artist.
It happened at that moment. There was a change inside of me because I got to live it fully.
Jackie Morreale (24:09)
You're still painting birds too. You just did an owl.
Erica Kyle (24:12)
My owl was the last piece I needed for that series. I held on to those birds because I transformed in the making of that series.
Each one of those birds is a reflection of what I needed to get through that transition and understanding my calling and my purpose and where it's supposed to lead me. They're each a little bit of peace that I found along the way.
They're painted in dark tones, which is intentional because that's how I felt in those moments.
I paint from emotion and I choose the colors that are where I'm at in that moment.
The birds are the light at the end of that darkness.
Jackie Morreale (24:52)
I hope that you're still painting in your garage as well as your studio, because it sounds like there's some magic there.
Erica Kyle (24:55)
I do. I always have something at home that I'm always working on at the same time.
The owl is intuition and wisdom. That was an important part of that cycle was tapping into my intuition and trusting it.
That's why the owl had to be the final piece, because that's where it takes you is the intuition.
Jackie Morreale (25:14)
The owl painting is reflecting wisdom gained from trusting yourself. There's so much there! Are you now willing to part with some of the collection?
Erica Kyle (25:19)
I'll say they've always been for sale, but secretly I didn't want them to leave. Finishing the series with that piece, I feel ready now. That was a chapter in this journey that led me here.
Jackie Morreale (25:33)
Let's talk more about the birds. Animals often appear in your work as spiritual symbols. What draws you to animals, specifically?
Erica Kyle (25:38)
There's a connection with nature, which connects to the spiritual part of it as well. Every morning I spend the world wakes up, I go outside.
Connecting with nature, particularly early in the morning, it's the most peaceful part of a day. I'm barefoot in the grass, I walk through my garden, I check on my flowers. I do yoga under this big giant tree I have. I'll sit there and I just watch the birds.
It feels like the closest you can get to God; nothing is more pure and natural than nature.
It's here before us and it'll be here when we're gone.
It'll regrow in all of its beautiful, imperfect ways.
That starts my day in peace, which I need to carry through all the chaos that happens as the day unfolds.
That's why I often paint birds. They are peace for me, and remind me that life is more than the little world I've created for myself. It's not about me or selling art.
There's more. Birds are constant reminders of the bigger picture. I have a playful critter series. The giraffes, the raccoons, the dogs. They just bring me joy.
It is so relatable. If you ever watch videos of a mama bear, chasing her little cubs around, and it's just pure chaos.
Jackie Morreale (26:47)
Us every day, right?
Erica Kyle (26:50)
Every day. Every mom is the same. Every kid is the same. No matter your species, the culture. The most innocent, pure, joyful presence of living is when you see a little critter or a small child.
Jackie Morreale (27:03)
I think everyone should have a morning routine like you. Go outside, ground, bare feet, yoga under a tree.
Erica Kyle (27:07)
Five minutes.
Jackie Morreale (27:08)
Five minutes! Listen to the birds, think about the bigger picture that's going to exist forever beyond us. I love everything that you said. I don't even want to translate it into my own words because you did such a good job.
When you were in your corporate life for twenty-five years, you built this thriving career as an executive woman in banking. Was any component of that role creative? You just ooze artistry. I'm just curious how you kept it in for all those years.
Erica Kyle (27:38)
I hate math, which is so weird that I ended up in banking. But there wasn't a lot of math in it. I think creatively, yes. Creative problem solving, but there's also that other side of my brain, that business part of it, the analytical.
Jackie Morreale (27:46)
Problem solving.
Erica Kyle (27:51)
There's a connection there. It exists somehow.
Jackie Morreale (27:53)
It exists. You're going to figure out a way to do business creatively and solve problems that no one else can.
Erica Kyle (27:59)
You've got to be able to step outside of a problem that maybe you or your team created. There's some creativity there. It's also that balance of the more analytical and business minded part of me.
(Continued below)
Erica Kyle Paintings - Collection: Playful Critters
Caught Red Handed (1), by Erica Kyle
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The Long Sit, by Erica Kyle
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The Long Walk, by Erica Kyle
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(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (28:09)
Let's talk about you as a thriving entrepreneurial artist in the South Florida art scene. You are involved with Artists of Palm Beach County and the Peach Art Collective. Congratulations. What is exciting to you about South Florida art right now?
Erica Kyle (28:24)
It's so exciting. My studio is at the Peach Art Collective. We're at 3950 Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach. There are six art studios here and ten artists. Amazing artists creating different kinds of work, in different mediums.
This street we're on, we've been seeing it build up to be its own little arts district. There's interior design, there's antiques, there's other galleries. There's so much moving in right here.
We're coming up on our five-year anniversary in September. Mark your calendar. September fifth is going to be a big party!
Jackie Morreale (28:46)
That whole area that you're in, it was once warehouses, and now it's a thriving art community. There are so many people coming from all over the world to South Florida. There's such a desire and a hunger for arts here.
Erica Kyle (28:59)
It's such a friendly and welcoming place, too, which is why I love being here so much. I feel like people get intimidated to go into an art gallery or to a studio because it's quiet and proper.
Coming here, it's community. It's a different vibe. I feel like that's what people are looking for.
Quite a few people come in and say we're the Wynwood of West Palm. Instead of going to Miami, it's here.
Jackie Morreale (29:29)
You said the Peach is celebrating five years. You could have said ten, you could have said twenty. It feels like it's been there for longer! It's this institution that just keeps defying gravity. I'm excited to see what the next five years and after that will be.
What has been one of the most meaningful moments for you as an artist?
Erica Kyle (29:52)
There was an exhibit a few years back, the last year of my corporate life, at the Cultural Council in Lake Worth.
They had reached out to me. They were doing a show where they had a full wall dedicated to flamingo art. I had a piece in my portfolio they wanted to include, but I had already sold it. So, I said I'll paint another flamingo.
What I painted was a flamingo, but it was it was moody because this is what I paint. It was it was a little unconventional in how you expect to see a flamingo.
It was that Payne's Gray color. Misty, interpretational, very contrast with the background. Atmospheric and impressionistic. The flamingo was leaning down looking at an orchid that was growing out of the nothing.
It was a story that I was telling called Finding Hope. I loved the piece.
We went on the opening night to the reception. It was beautifully curated. The wall was gorgeous, so many different flamingos in fun and bright, cheerful arrangements.
Then there was my very moody flamingo, which stood out... .
Jackie Morreale (30:49)
Seeking hope in an orchid, I love orchids, too.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (28:09)
Let's talk about you as a thriving entrepreneurial artist in the South Florida art scene. You are involved with Artists of Palm Beach County and the Peach Art Collective. Congratulations. What is exciting to you about South Florida art right now?
Erica Kyle (28:24)
It's so exciting. My studio is at the Peach Art Collective. We're at 3950 Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach. There are six art studios here and ten artists. Amazing artists creating different kinds of work, in different mediums.
This street we're on, we've been seeing it build up to be its own little arts district. There's interior design, there's antiques, there's other galleries. There's so much moving in right here.
We're coming up on our five-year anniversary in September. Mark your calendar. September fifth is going to be a big party!
Jackie Morreale (28:46)
That whole area that you're in, it was once warehouses, and now it's a thriving art community. There are so many people coming from all over the world to South Florida. There's such a desire and a hunger for arts here.
Erica Kyle (28:59)
It's such a friendly and welcoming place, too, which is why I love being here so much. I feel like people get intimidated to go into an art gallery or to a studio because it's quiet and proper.
Coming here, it's community. It's a different vibe. I feel like that's what people are looking for.
Quite a few people come in and say we're the Wynwood of West Palm. Instead of going to Miami, it's here.
Jackie Morreale (29:29)
You said the Peach is celebrating five years. You could have said ten, you could have said twenty. It feels like it's been there for longer! It's this institution that just keeps defying gravity. I'm excited to see what the next five years and after that will be.
What has been one of the most meaningful moments for you as an artist?
Erica Kyle (29:52)
There was an exhibit a few years back, the last year of my corporate life, at the Cultural Council in Lake Worth.
They had reached out to me. They were doing a show where they had a full wall dedicated to flamingo art. I had a piece in my portfolio they wanted to include, but I had already sold it. So, I said I'll paint another flamingo.
What I painted was a flamingo, but it was it was moody because this is what I paint. It was it was a little unconventional in how you expect to see a flamingo.
It was that Payne's Gray color. Misty, interpretational, very contrast with the background. Atmospheric and impressionistic. The flamingo was leaning down looking at an orchid that was growing out of the nothing.
It was a story that I was telling called Finding Hope. I loved the piece.
We went on the opening night to the reception. It was beautifully curated. The wall was gorgeous, so many different flamingos in fun and bright, cheerful arrangements.
Then there was my very moody flamingo, which stood out... .
Jackie Morreale (30:49)
Seeking hope in an orchid, I love orchids, too.
(Continued below)
Finding Hope, by Erica Kyle
(Continued)
Erica Kyle (30:58)
Not that it was right or wrong. All the work was beautiful.
But mine just wasn't tropical. I think that's what people expect to see when you think of a flamingo.
I was a little insecure about it when I saw how it fit with everything, but then it sold almost immediately on opening night, which made me happy.
I remember leaving that night feeling, ‘There’s an audience for (what I sometimes refer to as:) my sad dark work.’
It's the story. Someone connected to the story. There's an audience for that, someone who maybe is a little bit more contemplative.
That whole show was at a different level than the other exhibits I had done up to that point.
It made me feel really energized. I want more of that in my life.
That was a really important moment for me in realizing how much I wanted this life, and what I wanted this to look like.
Jackie Morreale (31:44)
That's a breakthrough moment right there. I love that you dared to be different at your Palm Beach Cultural Council event.
Erica Kyle (31:46)
That's such a good message for other artists.
Everyone has their own voice. It shouldn't look like everybody else's. It should be different. That's what makes you special.
Lean into that. It's okay if not everybody likes that.
There is somebody for it. That somebody needs what you have that nobody else can give them.
Jackie Morreale (32:07)
It's so much self-doubt that artists go through before your breakthrough moment where you're just shining.
Erica Kyle (32:07)
So much. You’re right.
Jackie Morreale (32:14)
Let's talk about advice. To anyone who's looking to kick off their creative journey, what would be the first step?
Erica Kyle (32:21)
Create. Put your blinders on. Just create.
I see so many young artists who are like, 'I want to sell my work'... but you don't have any work yet. You have great ideas, great talent and skill.
Form that. Figure out who you are as an artist.
What are you trying to say?
What is your artistic voice?
That takes time. It doesn't happen the first drawing that you do.
My first few paintings are very different than where I'm at now. I hope five years from now, I'm a different artist also. We should always want to be evolving.
Start with being good at your craft.
Don't worry about everything else. The puzzle comes together, one piece at a time. Then you'll see it blossom.
Jackie Morreale (32:58)
Shout-outs to anyone who helped you get to where you are today?
Erica Kyle (33:01)
I have two shout-outs. First is my friend and neighbor, Carolina King. Honestly, Carolina was the start of Erica Kyle Creations for me. We were friends and she's also an artist; a beautiful, talented, mosaic artist.
She had gotten connected with the Wellington Arts Society, which I didn't know existed. Through our conversation, she was telling me about her experiences. Soon after she had joined, she became the president on the board. She was very encouraging of me joining. She's like, ‘It's not like you would think an art group is, it's very welcoming and friendly.’ I'm a very shy person, so I needed that.
Joining that group was so important for me on this journey. It showed me, what does a professional artist look like? What is that journey? It was so inspiring to be around other creatives. It really motivated me and energized me to want to create more, want to go deeper in my mediums and explore different things.
That was a huge part of my journey. She's also the founder of Arts For Smiles. Wanting our art to benefit something more than ourselves. When we sell work, how do we make that mean something more? I worked on that with her for a few years, taking art and bringing it to kids in adverse situations to share a creative outlet. We need that especially at a young age.
My second shout-out is my studio mate Anthony Burks. He's so talented.
That day I made the decision to go look for an art studio, ended up in Palm Beach Gardens at a studio called Zero Empty Spaces. There were about 20 other artists who were in there. He was one of them. I had been following him for a while. I was a big fan of his work. He didn't know who I was.
We got to know each other a little bit and created a mutual respect of each other's work, work ethic, and understanding that art is a business and that you have to show up for it to make it something.
You can't just rely on someone walking in the door. It takes a lot of effort to be an artist. We bonded over that.
I was only there for about three months before they closed that location. We were all looking for new studio spaces. He reached out to me and asked if I wanted to join him here at the Peach.
Perfect timing, like alignment. I was so flattered that someone of his skill and talent thought enough of my work to share space with it. Huge shout-out to him.
Just being here at the Peach with this community has really helped me. Anthony and his mentorship and guidance have also really helped me find confidence.
As an artist, you're always questioning your work. You're always questioning where you're at with it. Am I doing enough? Is it good enough? He's been a big supporter and helpful.
Jackie Morreale (35:28)
Anthony Burks, not only is he somebody who builds confidence, his work and your work complement each other in Studio Two. The emotion, the color, the animal personification, all the stuff that we talked about, is also thematic for him. You guys are really like yin-yang for the studio that you share.
I see him doing that artist mentor throughout the community... Just like you!
Erica Kyle (35:46)
Everyone who walks in this door, he's an immediate fan and supporter.
We've gotten to know each other a lot, because we're here every day together. The storytelling he does in his work, on top of the insane talent of what he creates, it's beautiful. I'm blessed to share this space with him and to be part of his life.
Jackie Morreale (36:07)
Where can people find your work, Erica Kyle? What is next for you?
Erica Kyle (36:13)
You can find me at the Peach Studio 2, West Palm Beach. My website, EricaKyleCreations.com. I keep that updated with events that are going on, new work is always up there.
I do an art blog sharing the stories and reflections behind each of my paintings. It's called Finding Art's Purpose. Then Instagram, Facebook, TikTok… I'm on all the things.
Jackie Morreale (36:35)
Following you on Instagram. I felt like I was there with you while you were creating this massive giraffe in a suit holding a glass painting. You're an inspiring person, artist, force of nature, and I can't wait to see what you do next.
Erica Kyle (36:40)
Me too. It's a surprise to me every time the next door opens. I love having people come in here and sharing the work and sharing the story. So don't feel intimidated. Come chat, experience the work in person. It's always the best way to do it.
Jackie Morreale (37:02)
Congratulations on all your success. I really appreciate all your wise words. Big things, Erica Kyle. Really big things.
Erica Kyle (37:06)
Thank you. Thank you for inviting me!
I've watched a lot of your podcast. I love the way you host the show. You're so easy to talk to and natural. Thank you for giving everyone the platform to share their story.
Jackie Morreale (37:20)
You are very sweet. I'm just trying to learn from amazing people like you. So thank you, thank you. See you soon.
Erica Kyle (37:24)
Yes, thank you! Bye.
To learn more about Erica Kyle Creations, visit: ericakylecreations.com
To learn more about Studio 2 at The Peach, visit: thepeachwpb.com/artists.html
Erica Kyle (30:58)
Not that it was right or wrong. All the work was beautiful.
But mine just wasn't tropical. I think that's what people expect to see when you think of a flamingo.
I was a little insecure about it when I saw how it fit with everything, but then it sold almost immediately on opening night, which made me happy.
I remember leaving that night feeling, ‘There’s an audience for (what I sometimes refer to as:) my sad dark work.’
It's the story. Someone connected to the story. There's an audience for that, someone who maybe is a little bit more contemplative.
That whole show was at a different level than the other exhibits I had done up to that point.
It made me feel really energized. I want more of that in my life.
That was a really important moment for me in realizing how much I wanted this life, and what I wanted this to look like.
Jackie Morreale (31:44)
That's a breakthrough moment right there. I love that you dared to be different at your Palm Beach Cultural Council event.
Erica Kyle (31:46)
That's such a good message for other artists.
Everyone has their own voice. It shouldn't look like everybody else's. It should be different. That's what makes you special.
Lean into that. It's okay if not everybody likes that.
There is somebody for it. That somebody needs what you have that nobody else can give them.
Jackie Morreale (32:07)
It's so much self-doubt that artists go through before your breakthrough moment where you're just shining.
Erica Kyle (32:07)
So much. You’re right.
Jackie Morreale (32:14)
Let's talk about advice. To anyone who's looking to kick off their creative journey, what would be the first step?
Erica Kyle (32:21)
Create. Put your blinders on. Just create.
I see so many young artists who are like, 'I want to sell my work'... but you don't have any work yet. You have great ideas, great talent and skill.
Form that. Figure out who you are as an artist.
What are you trying to say?
What is your artistic voice?
That takes time. It doesn't happen the first drawing that you do.
My first few paintings are very different than where I'm at now. I hope five years from now, I'm a different artist also. We should always want to be evolving.
Start with being good at your craft.
Don't worry about everything else. The puzzle comes together, one piece at a time. Then you'll see it blossom.
Jackie Morreale (32:58)
Shout-outs to anyone who helped you get to where you are today?
Erica Kyle (33:01)
I have two shout-outs. First is my friend and neighbor, Carolina King. Honestly, Carolina was the start of Erica Kyle Creations for me. We were friends and she's also an artist; a beautiful, talented, mosaic artist.
She had gotten connected with the Wellington Arts Society, which I didn't know existed. Through our conversation, she was telling me about her experiences. Soon after she had joined, she became the president on the board. She was very encouraging of me joining. She's like, ‘It's not like you would think an art group is, it's very welcoming and friendly.’ I'm a very shy person, so I needed that.
Joining that group was so important for me on this journey. It showed me, what does a professional artist look like? What is that journey? It was so inspiring to be around other creatives. It really motivated me and energized me to want to create more, want to go deeper in my mediums and explore different things.
That was a huge part of my journey. She's also the founder of Arts For Smiles. Wanting our art to benefit something more than ourselves. When we sell work, how do we make that mean something more? I worked on that with her for a few years, taking art and bringing it to kids in adverse situations to share a creative outlet. We need that especially at a young age.
My second shout-out is my studio mate Anthony Burks. He's so talented.
That day I made the decision to go look for an art studio, ended up in Palm Beach Gardens at a studio called Zero Empty Spaces. There were about 20 other artists who were in there. He was one of them. I had been following him for a while. I was a big fan of his work. He didn't know who I was.
We got to know each other a little bit and created a mutual respect of each other's work, work ethic, and understanding that art is a business and that you have to show up for it to make it something.
You can't just rely on someone walking in the door. It takes a lot of effort to be an artist. We bonded over that.
I was only there for about three months before they closed that location. We were all looking for new studio spaces. He reached out to me and asked if I wanted to join him here at the Peach.
Perfect timing, like alignment. I was so flattered that someone of his skill and talent thought enough of my work to share space with it. Huge shout-out to him.
Just being here at the Peach with this community has really helped me. Anthony and his mentorship and guidance have also really helped me find confidence.
As an artist, you're always questioning your work. You're always questioning where you're at with it. Am I doing enough? Is it good enough? He's been a big supporter and helpful.
Jackie Morreale (35:28)
Anthony Burks, not only is he somebody who builds confidence, his work and your work complement each other in Studio Two. The emotion, the color, the animal personification, all the stuff that we talked about, is also thematic for him. You guys are really like yin-yang for the studio that you share.
I see him doing that artist mentor throughout the community... Just like you!
Erica Kyle (35:46)
Everyone who walks in this door, he's an immediate fan and supporter.
We've gotten to know each other a lot, because we're here every day together. The storytelling he does in his work, on top of the insane talent of what he creates, it's beautiful. I'm blessed to share this space with him and to be part of his life.
Jackie Morreale (36:07)
Where can people find your work, Erica Kyle? What is next for you?
Erica Kyle (36:13)
You can find me at the Peach Studio 2, West Palm Beach. My website, EricaKyleCreations.com. I keep that updated with events that are going on, new work is always up there.
I do an art blog sharing the stories and reflections behind each of my paintings. It's called Finding Art's Purpose. Then Instagram, Facebook, TikTok… I'm on all the things.
Jackie Morreale (36:35)
Following you on Instagram. I felt like I was there with you while you were creating this massive giraffe in a suit holding a glass painting. You're an inspiring person, artist, force of nature, and I can't wait to see what you do next.
Erica Kyle (36:40)
Me too. It's a surprise to me every time the next door opens. I love having people come in here and sharing the work and sharing the story. So don't feel intimidated. Come chat, experience the work in person. It's always the best way to do it.
Jackie Morreale (37:02)
Congratulations on all your success. I really appreciate all your wise words. Big things, Erica Kyle. Really big things.
Erica Kyle (37:06)
Thank you. Thank you for inviting me!
I've watched a lot of your podcast. I love the way you host the show. You're so easy to talk to and natural. Thank you for giving everyone the platform to share their story.
Jackie Morreale (37:20)
You are very sweet. I'm just trying to learn from amazing people like you. So thank you, thank you. See you soon.
Erica Kyle (37:24)
Yes, thank you! Bye.
To learn more about Erica Kyle Creations, visit: ericakylecreations.com
To learn more about Studio 2 at The Peach, visit: thepeachwpb.com/artists.html
Erica Kyle at Studio 2 at the Peach in West Palm Beach, Florida
Erica Kyle and Anthony Burks at Studio 2 at the Peach in West Palm Beach, Florida
Shout out to the special art organizations mentioned in this interview!
Click for more information on the organization's website.
Erica Kyle Creations
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The Peach Art Collective
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Wellington Arts Society
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Arts for Smiles
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Anthony Burks Collections
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Zero Empty Spaces
|
Continued reading, recommended by Erica Kyle:
For Whom the Bell Tolls. By Ernest Hemingway (Author).
|
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Military Families: 101 Stories about the Force Behind the Forces. By Amy Newmark (Author), Miranda Hope (Foreword). Includes a story written by Erica Kyle!
|
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