Erica Group Kiel, Author at EGD

The Making of a Mural: Swallow-tailed kite Wings

Erica Group Kiel — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 21:53:27 +0000

Well, here we are! The end of a chapter. This morning was bittersweet as I unveiled the last installment in the Wing Of The West Series. The 6th and final set of wings reside at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in DeLeon Springs. This location was the perfect setting to wrap up the series. I have always LOVED taking walks with my best friends on the refuge. One of my first dates with my now husband was a cool winter walk around the preserve. Needless to say, Lake Woodruff holds a special place in my heart. The idea of my artwork living in such a special place is pretty unbelievable.

Candice Stevenson, the manager at the refuge, contacted West Volusia Tourism after seeing some of the other wings I had created and asked to be considered as a location. Georgia Turner and I were thrilled at the opportunity and felt it was a great fit for us. We scheduled a meeting with Candice and got a VIP tour around the refuge in one of the few vehicles allowed on the property. We all agreed the two giant oak trees would make the perfect shaded canopy to house the wings. If you’ve ever been out there, you know they provide the only bit of shade on the loop. We stood in the future location of the wings and knew it was the perfect fit. The backdrop could not be more picturesque!

The construction of these wings was much like the last two sets. I drew each wing on a large piece of marine-grade plywood and my dad cut them out with a jigsaw. Next, sanding and priming to prep the surface for paint. (My dad also helped a lot with this since I am 6 months pregnant). I laid down a base coat of gradation from white to black and then had fun adding the detail. Believe it or not, the cheap little chip brushes gave me the texture and stroke I was looking for. They perfectly feathered the white into the deep gray just how I was hoping.

As with the rest of the wings, it was very important to me that the wings blend into their new environment seamlessly. Volunteers at Lake Woodruff installed four posts in the ground to anchor the wings.

My dad and I brought the wings in the back of his truck, along with some tools for mounting and a basket of touch up paint on the day of installation. Many hands made light work and we hung them in no time. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was perfectly cool and the trees protected us from the glare of the sun. A little bit of time spent touching up spots from transportation and they were ready for the big reveal! We, of course, had to stop at Danny’s Ice Cream on the way home. It felt like the perfect way to celebrate.

And so, the Wings of the West series is complete! I am thrilled to see it all come together and to now promote the Wing Trail. It is our hope that people will tour around our awesome county and collect photos with the wings along the way. Creating this series has truly been a dream come true. I am so grateful to Georgia Turner of West Volusia Tourism and Michael Benedict of Benedict Advertising for dreaming up this series and allowing me to create it.

Life is sweet.

The post The Making of a Mural: Swallow-tailed kite Wings appeared first on EGD.

The Making of a Mural – Part 4 – Scrub Jay Wings

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:18:15 +0000

My fourth Wings of the West instalment has officially been unveiled! You can find the massive scrub jay wings at the Lyonia Preserve in Deltona (2150 Eustace Ave.) They are on the North side of the amphitheater in front of the pollinator garden. Imagine, standing on the path in the pollinator garden taking a picture of someone in front of the wings and butterflies are fluttering around you.

Let’s back up…a couple months ago, Georgia Turner and I met with Sandra Falcon (Manager Lyonia Environmental Center) and Ann Collins (Deltona Library) to look at the proposed location for the wings. We all agreed this wall adjacent to the pollinator garden was the perfect spot. It seems to be a common thread that the walls I select for these murals are challenging for painting. This wall was no exception. The top half of the wall is stucco with deep ridges dividing it into thirds. The bottom half of the wall is a very textured concrete brick. We all agreed the best way to create this would be to mimic the process I used for the fairy wings in Cassadaga.

I sketched a design, researched color and began “construction”. I drew the outline of the wings on two large sheets of marine-grade plywood and my husband cut out the pattern with a jigsaw. Filling, sanding and priming were necessary to prep the wings for color. I grabbed a brush and my grey paint and began creating the outlines for the added detail. The first bit of color on the plain white surface is always a bit nerve-wracking. Once that first stroke has been made though, it’s full steam ahead! I referenced my sketch and the images of scrub jays provided by Lyonia and dove right in. Two hours later, I was starting to see the results I was hoping for. I took a break to rest my hands and mind and returned with a fresh set of eyes. I added the shading and highlights and a few small details a called it a day. The next step wouldn’t be as fun…I cautiously painted the edges and gave both wings a solid clear coat to protect them from the elements.
Yesterday was installation day! Rusty and Chad of the Volusia County Library team generously offered to pick up the wings from my parent’s shop where I constructed and painted them. We met at the preserve and discussed our plan for installation. They were incredibly patient, diligent and hard working. They took such care in transporting and handling the wings. They cautiously hung the wings and took all necessary measures to hide signs of the hardware used in mounting. They truly went above and beyond to make sure everything was just how I wanted it. I can’t compliment their efforts enough!!!

We had a great turn out at the unveiling this morning and the big reveal when we released the tarp was as “dramatic” as I was hoping! Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported this project and all the hands that were involved in making this such a success. If you haven’t visited the Lyonia Environmental Center, please do! You won’t be disappointed. It’s both educational and beautiful. We are heading into some beautiful weather, so get out there and enjoy the trails and experience the beauty of the scrub jays!

The post The Making of a Mural – Part 4 – Scrub Jay Wings appeared first on EGD.

The Making of a Mural – Part 3 – Fairy Wings

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:09:28 +0000

My third wings of the west instalment has officially been unveiled! They are located at the end of a whimsical, winding fairy trail in Cassadaga. The trailhead starts at the corner of Chauncey and Seneca St. This set of wings is unique in many ways, but one big difference is the fact that they are not painted on an existing wall or structure like my previous murals. Why? Well, they really are in the woods!

When I did the first site visit, I looked at several options along the fairy trail. The chosen location was a hands down, no brainer kind of decision. As I walked the trail with Georgia Turner and Dawn Medley, we were approaching what seemed to be the end of the trail. There was a large pine tree strattled above the trail that had likely wedged itself into place during one of our hurricanes. Beyond that was an even larger pine that had fallen directly onto the trail. A walkway sized “gap” was cut out of the larger fallen pine to allow foot traffic to continue down the path. To me, this was the perfect gateway into what would be the home of the life size fairy wings.

From there I began brainstorming and sketched an initial design. I knew I wanted them to be very whimsical and dainty. Since there was no existing structure, and I wanted them to feel organic, “floating” wings was the answer! Since they would be spending so much time with Mother Nature, special care was taken in selecting the materials for the wings. 4’x8’ sheets of marine grade plywood got the project started. I drew the outline of my design and my husband, Jeff cut out the pattern with a jigsaw. I primed and sealed the wood to prevent mildew and then it was time for the color!

Choosing the colors was a challenge, but in the end, I was very happy with how they all tied together. Fine glitter dust incorporated into the paint was a MUST! Fairy wings have to have fairy dust! I loved how sculptural the mural was and wanted to emphasize that with metal scroll details extending off each side. My dad is a welder and metal fabricator and happily turned this vision into reality. He also constructed support and mounting boards to the back of the wings to make install easier.

We planned an installation a couple days before the unveiling to leave room and time for any unforeseen hiccups. The in-house carpenter of Cassadaga, Bill, secured two posts into the ground prior to the scheduled installation. The wings were transported in the back of two trucks to the site. Our sparkly caravan delivered the wings unscathed and without any threat of rain. It was all hands on deck as they were hoisted into place against the pre-set poles. Minor adjustments were made; “up a little, no down a little…perfect!” and one at a time, the wings came to life. They fit into their setting just as I hoped…almost as if they grew right out of the ground.

Creating these wings brought me through a nostalgic journey down memory lane. Growing up, I had the joy of knowing a woman named Joan Powis. She was our next door neighbor for many years. A lovely English woman with a beautiful outlook on life and a vivacious soul. She left a special impression on me. She too was an artist. She taught me; to really notice the little things in life, that it’s never too late to learn how to play the piano, that a glass of wine can put you at peace with the world, that food can be described as gorgeous and to believe in fairies.

The post The Making of a Mural – Part 3 – Fairy Wings appeared first on EGD.

What’s Up In West Volusia – Ep 3

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:03:37 +0000

I had a blast filming the third episode of the What’s Up in West Volusia video series. In this episode we touched on DeLand’s love for art, life on the St Johns and another amazing local restaurant boasting vibrant Latin American flavors.

Read more here and watch the episode on my new What’s Up page!

What to do: I started out viewing the incredible collection of MC Escher works at the Museum of Art in DeLand. This was the largest collection ever shown, combining multiple personal collections. It was humbling to be in the presence of such renowned works.

What to eat: De La Vega is one of DeLand’s treasured restaurants. My favorite dish is the Hibiscus tacos. If you like balsamic vinegar, you will love them! Outdoor seating, house-made guacamole and sangria are 3 more reasons not to miss this spot when you come to the area.

Where to stay: Hontoon Landing Resort and Marina is a beautiful retreat on the St. John’s River. It’s perfectly peaceful and nestled in the heart of nature. The captains suite boasts a beautiful balcony up in the trees with a direct view onto the river. Come in the spring to see a show of hummingbirds!

Thanks for watching, I look forward to our next adventure around West Volusia!

The post What’s Up In West Volusia – Ep 3 appeared first on EGD.

The Making of a Mural – Part 2 – Peacock Wings

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:01:04 +0000

I’m proud to say I’ve completed the second set of wings in the Wings of the West series!

This set is tucked away in the Pioneer Art Settlement in Barberville.

Peacocks reside in the settlement and were the perfect muse for this set of wings. The scale of this set of wings falls somewhere between adult and child size to please the generations that frequent the settlement.

I was challenged by another uneven surface during this project. The texture of this wood structure makes the mural that much more authentic and therefore, worth every bump along the way.

I was especially excited to work with a range of metallic paint for this mural.

The gold made all the difference in the world in making the details pop. I was fortunate to have beautiful weather each day I worked on this mural!! It was so peaceful out there. Thank you to my sweet mom for keeping me company on my last long day of painting!

As many of you know, I just got married!! I’m proud to say I am Erica Kiel, now! I’ve decided to keep my maiden name for my artwork though, so you’ll see I will continue to sign everything as Erica Group.

– Until next time!

The post The Making of a Mural – Part 2 – Peacock Wings appeared first on EGD.

What’s Up In West Volusia – Ep 2 – Peacock Wings

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:57:58 +0000

What’s Up in West Volusia Episode 2 has wrapped! It was a pleasure working with Jordan Kahn of Presslaunch Pictures. His vision and directing are what make these videos a success.

During this Episode, we highlight what to do, where to stay and where to eat in West Volusia. We start with the DeLand Indie Market. A curated market of vintage and handmade goods put on quarterly by Courtney Ford Hamil. This show has steadily grown and draws vendors and shoppers from across the state!

Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company is next on the tour. A family (and dog) friendly atmosphere is sure to keep you coming back for more. Co-owners Andy Sistrunk and Robbie Carelli give us a tour of the brewing process and reflect on the overwhelming support of the community. They co-own Neighbors Tacos with Cafe Davinci. There are many artisinal tacos to choose from, but I especially enjoy the “Upstate”- buffalo chicken, blue cheese and carrots.

An excellent place to lay your head after jaunting around DeLand is the Artisan Downtown. This historic building has been modernized and transformed into a beautiful boutique hotel. Sisters, Hina and Sarah Patel co-own this dreamy retreat and are excited about the additional rooms that are currently being added.

All in all, there are so many fun things to do, so much beauty to see and so many wonderful restaurants in DeLand, this special place I call home. You can’t do it all in one day!

The post What’s Up In West Volusia – Ep 2 – Peacock Wings appeared first on EGD.

The Making of a Mural – Part 1

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:54:52 +0000

I’ve begun the second set of the Wings of The West murals!

This time, I’m in Barberville at the Pioneer Settlement. Peacock tail feathers adorn the side of an old wood building. Another challenging surface, but I’ve practice from the bi-plane wings mural.

Much like the DeLand Wings, this set is also off the beaten path. I think the thrill of the hunt and the glory of the discovery is part of the fun! The scale of these wings fall between adult and child size to draw generations. I’ve so enjoyed choosing the paint for this project.

Iridescent and metallic details are making an appearance. The “eye” of the feathers are near completion.

Next up, the body and long feathers will finish the mural!

The post The Making of a Mural – Part 1 appeared first on EGD.

Making of a Mural – Skydive DeLand

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:32:40 +0000

I’m ALMOST finished with the first Wings of the West mural.

This first set, representative of an old bi-plane, is located at Skydive DeLand.

Days spent painting here have reminded me how special this part of our town is. Beautiful weather, great company and awesome views.

My days at the “office” watching skydivers descend from the sky have been so enjoyable. The fact that the weather has been picture perfect is just an added bonus.

The focus of this mural has been to capture an illustrated bi-plane straight off the page of my sketchbook. Simple lines, color and stature. As always, my sweet dog Nellie keeps me company when Jeff is at work and unable to join.

The corrugated aluminum proved to be a challenging canvas. I’ve worked on heavily textured surfaces, but nothing quite like this.

Stay tuned for updates on the second set of wings at The Pioneer Settlement in Barberville! #wingsofthewest

UPDATED: 12/20/2017
I am now finished with the wings at Skydive DeLand!

Come by, have a drink and enjoy the new photo-op!

The post Making of a Mural – Skydive DeLand appeared first on EGD.

Wedding Stationery For Me, By Me!

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:24:06 +0000

Creating our own wedding invitations was a surreal process. It was a labor of love and worth every minute. I knew they would be black and white, would include a map and would include a unique shape. That was the easy part.

Finally putting pen to paper did not come as easy. I began by creating a map of our beloved hometown, DeLand. It was then that my wheels started turning and the ideas flooded in.

I chose fonts aligned and the architectural illustration of the Historic Courthouse adorned the top of the invitation. With many out of town guests in attendance, we decided an additional page of information would be necessary to outline the full list of events for the weekend and highlight our favorite spots for shopping and dining in town.

The RSVP card allowed for a unique design moment whilst sticking with our black and white theme. Their accompanying vellum envelopes showed off the outside of the card printed with the return address and our wedding monogram. Black envelopes with white ink were the finishing touch that tied the entire suite together.

I absolutely love creating wedding invitations and architectural illustrations. Combining the two with wedding maps makes it all the better.

If you’d like me to help designing your wedding invites, chalkboards and other bespoke stationery drop me an Email at ericalgroup@gmail.com

The post Wedding Stationery For Me, By Me! appeared first on EGD.

My New Murals Around West Volusia

Erica Group Kiel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:18:05 +0000

I’m happy to announce that I have been hired by The West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authority as their Artist in Residence! With this, I will be producing five new and unique sets of WINGS at various West Volusia locations. Each set of wings will be representative of the site where they’re painted. Stay tuned for …

My New Murals Around West Volusia Read More »

The post My New Murals Around West Volusia appeared first on EGD.