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We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eric Rottcher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eric below.

Hi Eric, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I don’t really know how to answer this one, but I would have to say yes, I believe I am for the most part. Granted, I’m not happy all the time, but who really is? I think life is a steady flow of mundanity and disappointment, only punctuated with moments of happiness; it makes me appreciate those moments even more.
I believe that being an artist, for me at least , means being sort of perfectionist. I go through times when I feel like my work is horrible and I’m a failure. I also have days when I feel my work is just okay. But true happiness comes from the moments when I’ve created something I’m simply just proud of. When I step back from it, I wonder how I could...

PROFILE ON THE ARTIST...
Eric Rottcher is a fine artist currently based in Gettysburg, PA, whose work precariously balances between the worlds of Fine Art and Lowbrow. Earning his BA in Fine Art with a focus on Aesthetics from Shippensburg University in 2011, Eric's academic background has significantly shaped his artistic approach. His mixed media collage paintings feature a blend of many layers of paint and found images, sourced from old books and magazines, culminating in a pictorial density that has become his signature style.
Inspiration strikes Eric from multiple sources—a picture, a song, or even a simple phrase can spark the idea for an entire series or a single painting. Through an intuitive creative process, he re-contextualizes old images to construct new, meaningful dialogues that delve into subjects as diverse as mental illness, addiction, religion, humor, love, death, and the nature of beauty.
Eric's artistic journey has been anything but smooth sailing. After...

Eric Rottcher on exploring the depths of human emotions and experiences through mixed media art.

Submitted by Eric Rottcher, US

I create mixed media collages and assemblages as a means of communicating more effectively. Similar to other languages, I take bits and pieces from others and combine them to invent new ways of telling a story. The act of creating is compulsory, and it has been a source of comfort and solace to me for as long as I can remember. As the only artistically inclined member of my family, I was encouraged to explore my creativity by taking art classes.
It was at Shippensburg University where I truly began to explore my passion for art. I was encouraged to utilise different mediums in a variety of disciplines to create pieces that depicted my unique perspective on the world. I also took classes in Aesthetics, which allowed me to dive deeper into the meanings behind my artwork.

Shortly after I graduated from college, my life took an unexpected...

Freestyle

August 1 - 31, 2023
For the first time, we are now giving the floor to our artists. ”Freestyle” for us means that there are no limitations on the theme, style, or technique.
Featuring 118 artists this online group show is all about their freedom of expression!

This exhibit features Digital Art, it is an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology, as an essential part of the creative or presentation process. This includes the use of computers, mobile or portable technology. Photography may or may not be included in this creative work of art.

Did you ever have a memory, or what you thought was a memory, that could have been a dream? Many artists are inspired by their dreams. How can you express visually that it might have been a dream? Picture yourself in a strange place, use blurry textures, or a bit of unrealistic elements. The works selected for this show are examples of the best use of the technology and vision of the theme. Thank you to all who entered and are on the cutting edge of this new art expression.

Thank you to Catherine Caddigan (www.catherinecaddigan.com) for being the judge for this exhibit.

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Announces Winners of Cumberland Valley Artists and Photographers Exhibitions
HAGERSTOWN, Maryland – Washington County Museum of Fine Arts marks the 90th year of the Cumberland Valley Artists and Photographers Exhibitions with an array of new works by Quad-State creators.

An annual tradition since 1933, the Cumberland Valley Artists and Photographers Exhibitions showcase, celebrate, and support artists of the Cumberland Valley region. This juried exhibition accepts work from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The exhibitions will be on view from February 11 to April 23, 2023.

This year’s jurors were Dr. Mary Morton, curator and head of the French paintings department at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Leo Hsu, executive director of Silver Eye Center for Photography in Pittsburgh and an instructor in the photography program at Carnegie Mellon University.

A total...

Join us at Galactic Panther on Saturday, April 22nd, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm for the opening reception of our latest contemporary art exhibit, "Benevolent Iron Thunder Mother." Discover a diverse collection from a dozen local, national, and international contemporary visual artists showcasing their unique perspectives.

The opening celebration is FREE and open to the public. Enjoy live music from The Sebastions & Jah Messenger Sound while you indulge in delicious local catering. Donations are gratefully accepted, and all artwork will be for sale.

Get up close and personal with the creative minds behind the exhibit, including returning Galactic Panther favorites like DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh, powerhouse printmaker Joseph Lupo, and new artists such as Deerjerk and Campaniello Salvatore. The exhibit will be on view until June.

But that's not all! Galactic Panther has an exciting lineup of upcoming events, including:

Dancing every other Tuesday
Comedy every...