Artist Interview: Erin McIntosh

We are excited to share an interview with Gregg Irby Gallery artist, Erin McIntosh! Erin is an artist and educator based in North Georgia that has been showing her works through our gallery since 2004. She received both her BFA and MFA in Studio Art from the University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art and now teaches painting at the University of North Georgia.

Her paintings and works on paper are poetic interpretations of felt experience and invisible aspects of life, explored through intuitive investigations of organic shapes, geometry, and color. Irregular shapes are layered with patches and dashes of color which aggregate into playful visual fields to visually delight the eye and mind.

We asked Erin McIntosh a few questions to showcase her creative process, artistic and academic background, and long history with Gregg Irby Gallery!

Erin McIntosh in her Studio | Photography by Marie Palbom Photography

First off, we’d love for you to introduce yourself!

McIntosh: Hi! I'm an artist and educator based near Athens, GA who loves experimenting with shape and color. Growing up with an artist mother and an engineer father, I was immersed in both artmaking and analytical thinking. I spent much of my youth training in classical ballet but eventually shifted my focus to studying painting at The University of Georgia. Growing up, watching my mother work as an artist was hugely inspirational. Now I’ve been painting for over twenty years professionally and teaching in higher education for over fifteen – I love seeing students develop their artistic voices. In my free time, you’ll often find me cycling quiet backroads and spending time with my wonderful partner.

You have mentioned that each of your series begins with a broad concept, such as gardens, architecture, and microbiology. Can you tell us a bit more about your inspirations and your artistic process?

McIntosh: These overarching concepts guide my color choices and the shape language of my paintings. Once I start mixing color, I mostly improvise, responding to what I see on the canvas and letting paintings inform each other.

One of my long-running series, the “Architectural” series, grew out of small hand-painted paper collages that explore soft, stacked geometric forms. Over time, small collages also have evolved into larger-scale pieces, drawing on my love of quilt-like color blocking. 

My “Garden Fresh” series stems, in part, from watching my father tend his huge garden in his backyard. There’s a parallel between nurturing a garden and creating a painting: both involve starting with a small seed or inspiration, nurturing it, and watching it come to life. 

Fascination in the microscopic world led me to create imaginative “Microbe” paintings in watercolor and gouache. This series has grown out of collaborative work with biologists at my university.

Music is an overarching passion of mine that influences my art, including its rhythmic repetition and stacked layering style. Like music, art can transport us, spark delight, and enhance our well-being. In our unsettled world, I hope my artwork can be a soft place to land for others like it is for me..

Art Education seems to have a large impact in your life. How does your role as an educator impact your role as an artist?

McIntosh: Teaching in higher education compliments my artmaking. Being in the classroom challenges me to clarify my own process and learn new techniques so I can share them. For example, this semester I am teaching an advanced course on various traditional and contemporary painting media and techniques. We are experimenting with acrylic mediums like crackle paste and pumice gel to alter the textural qualities of our paintings. It’s been exciting to experiment right alongside my students.

What is your favorite thing to listen to while you paint - music, podcasts, TV background, etc?

McIntosh: I typically listen to music or podcasts. My music choices lean toward modern classical with minimal or no lyrics—composers like Olivia Belli, Ólafur Arnalds, Pieter de Graaf, Jóhann Jóhannsson, and Luca D’Alberto. For podcasts, I’m a fan of Windowsill Chats, which features conversations on living a creative life, and Hidden Brain, which offers thought-provoking perspectives on human behavior. Both inspire me to think more deeply about how creativity and well-being intersect.

Erin’s painting process | Photography by Erica Carrillo

You’ve been with Gregg Irby Gallery since 2004! Reflecting back, how would you describe your journey as an artist? How has your art changed?

McIntosh: It’s wild to think it’s been two decades. I’m so grateful to Gregg Irby Gallery for supporting my exploration and growth as a painter. Early on, I balanced part-time jobs with as many hours in the studio as I could manage—those years taught me to stay focused on big goals and to be patient and resilient. Over the last decade, working as a professor in a dynamic and growing art department has allowed me to fully immerse in my passion.

While my paintings keep evolving, there’s a recurring thread of playful composition and a love for vibrant, uplifting color. I’ve learned to trust the process and let the paintings unfold, always aiming to create art that feels joyful and that provides a sense of calm and delight.

Collage | Photography by Erica Carrillo