I’ve painted for over 35 years. Collectors often remark on the extraordinary heart and presence within each piece, and the sense of love that lives inside the work.

For me, to paint is to breathe.

I sold my first painting at the age of 10 in Sweden, where I was born and raised.

Through my custom pet portrait paintings, I create museum-quality legacy pieces honoring the animal you loved and the life you shared.

Alongside my commissioned work, I teach pet portrait painting through carefully structured courses and mentorship. Designed for artists at every stage, these programs focus on process, clarity, and the completion of fully realized portraits.

Loved and Lost

Much of my desire to paint pets comes from my own cherished dog, Lucas.

For twelve years, he was my constant companion. His loss shaped the way I approach every commission, with integrity, reverence, and profound care for the bond entrusted to me.

Each portrait is created with that awareness, honoring the relationship that was entirely yours.

In many ways, Lucas remains at the heart of this work.

My portraits are held in private collections internationally and have been featured in media around the world.

Invited live to share my portrait process and present a commissioned memorial portrait on air a surprise for the news anchor.

ABOUT ERICA ERIKSDOTTER:
heirloom portrait artist

Born and raised in Eskilstuna, Sweden, surrounded by nature and Viking runes, I fell in love with painting at an early age, painting watercolor landscapes at my family’s dining table at the age of 7.

I sold my first painting at age 10 of a small simple landscape with a single red balloon floating in the air. I continued to paint throughout my teens, finishing watercolor pieces while on the phone with my girlfriends (and our yorkie, Lucas, in my lap), and while traveling in Europe with my parents and two sisters.

For me, painting was as essential as breathing. It supported and nurtured me.

As a third-generation painter, to be creative was valued in my family. My mother was always busy with a new creative project (we did an art exhibit together in 2011), and my grandfather was also a fine arts painter. Their art hangs in my studio today as a quiet reminder of the creative legacy I carry forward.

Everything I’ve learned over 35+ years of painting has come from a daily commitment to showing up at the easel.

My art continued to sustain me through moving continents, losing my father at 21, and building a demanding career in public relations in Washington, D.C.

I picked up commissions again in 2005 following my first art exhibit in Reston, Virginia. I merged the watercolor techniques I’d taught myself with acrylics and felt the energy shift inside me. I bubbled with creativity and my art flowed, without falter, directly from my heart out through my brush.

I officially launched Studio Eriksdotter in 2009. I exhibited in National Juried Art Shows along the East Coast, presenting large-scale works and building a devoted collector base.

The desire to focus exclusively on pet portraits began with a longing to memorialize my cherished childhood dog, Lucas, in 2011. The responsibility of capturing his essence felt immense. He meant too much to risk getting it wrong.

Instead, I began painting the pets of my collectors. The response was immediate and deeply resonant. I shared the process on instagram and watched the commissions grow.

While continuing to exhibit in galleries, I also began teaching in-studio painting classes in 2013, balancing my corporate communications career with an expanding artistic practice. Guiding students through their own creative breakthroughs deepened my understanding of both discipline and devotion in art.

After nearly a decade of commissioned pet portraits, The Washington Post featured my work in a two-page story in 2019, exploring the emotional depth and legacy of my pet portraits. Following the feature, commissions expanded internationally. (read over 100 heartfelt stories from pet parents).

My work continues to be covered in media around the world, from live television appearances on Good Morning Washington to publications in the United States and Sweden.

In 2019, I was invited to speak at several Art Leagues about my portrait practice. That experience rekindled my commitment to teaching. With two children and a desire to reach more artists, I transitioned to online instruction, allowing me to continue my commissioned work while mentoring painters around the world.

In 2021, I began offering my layered painting process to a select group of students through my signature online programs, How to Paint a Dog Portrait and How to Paint Soulful Eyes.

Today, both my private commissions and my teaching programs are approached with the same intentional pacing and commitment to depth.

Painting and teaching are deeply personal to me. Each is approached with the same integrity and commitment to excellence, ensuring that collectors and students alike feel confident in the experience.

That commitment to service extends beyond the studio. Each commission also supports organizations serving women, children, and animals in need. (read more here.)

If I could thank Lucas, I would tell him this: you led me to a life of fulfillment and service. Every portrait I paint is a reflection of the love you gave me, carried forward into homes and hearts of others.

And that brings me to you…