Erik began painting en plein air with his friends and fellow artists in The Group, based in Marblehead, Ohio, in 2017. He visits a new location each time and finds an interesting composition; then he begins the sketch and completes the entire painting in a few hours. Plein air painting has quickly become Erik’s favorite painting style, though he still works in the studio from time to time on commission pieces, special projects and subjects he can’t paint live and “en plein air.” Sometimes Ohio weather just doesn’t cooperate for painting outdoors!