Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
PHILIPPIANS 4 4-8
John Carroll Collier's Annunciation
My wife, Kimberly Erickson, has already been introduced on this website as a glass artist and illustrator, but there is more to be told of her family's story. I also believe its important to share Kimberly's art again here as well for context.
Most importantly, this page is intended to put the spotlight just a bit on John Carroll Collier, Kimberly's father, Carroll Collier, her grandfather, and Mildred Collier, her grandmother. (As an aside, for information on their namesake Charles Carroll of Carrollton, I would recommend EWTN's new title.)
Most importantly, this page is intended to put the spotlight just a bit on John Carroll Collier, Kimberly's father, Carroll Collier, her grandfather, and Mildred Collier, her grandmother. (As an aside, for information on their namesake Charles Carroll of Carrollton, I would recommend EWTN's new title.)
Kimberly Erickson
If you're new to this website, you might be unfamiliar with Kimberly Erickson. She's the daughter of John Carroll Collier and granddaughter of Carroll Collier.
Kimberly was raised in the arts, immersed in them, thanks to the artistic talents of her father and both of her grandparents (on her father's side). Born in Dallas, Texas, then spending the first part of her life in upstate New York (Pawling) due to her father's close connection to New York's art and illustration market, Kimberly was constantly surrounded by her family's art--close enough to the city for her illustrator father, but far enough north to be a comfortable place to raise a family. The following chapters in her life brought her to Lawrence, Kansas and then Seattle, Washington, where we met at Seattle Pacific University in 1988.
Today, Kimberly and I reside in Monmouth, Oregon. While she doesn't have as much free time as she had in the past, Kimberly has worked in the following art mediums: illustration (See Toupee Mice, Tristan's Travels, and The Blood Cries Out cover design.), water gilding, painting, guache, as well as fused glass. Glass remains the current area of focus for Kimberly.
Kimberly was raised in the arts, immersed in them, thanks to the artistic talents of her father and both of her grandparents (on her father's side). Born in Dallas, Texas, then spending the first part of her life in upstate New York (Pawling) due to her father's close connection to New York's art and illustration market, Kimberly was constantly surrounded by her family's art--close enough to the city for her illustrator father, but far enough north to be a comfortable place to raise a family. The following chapters in her life brought her to Lawrence, Kansas and then Seattle, Washington, where we met at Seattle Pacific University in 1988.
Today, Kimberly and I reside in Monmouth, Oregon. While she doesn't have as much free time as she had in the past, Kimberly has worked in the following art mediums: illustration (See Toupee Mice, Tristan's Travels, and The Blood Cries Out cover design.), water gilding, painting, guache, as well as fused glass. Glass remains the current area of focus for Kimberly.
John Collier
John Carroll Collier was born to Carroll and Mildred Collier in Dallas, Texas in 1948. Not realizing it until many years later, he was raised in the same south Dallas neighborhood as his future wife, Shirley Ann Collier. He attended college in North Texas where he quickly learned that art was more his strength than engineering. Kimberly and Shannon soon followed after John and Shirley's marriage.
While perhaps most associated with the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero, John actually began his career in the illustration market in New York City. Over many years, John slowly began to pursue art in the religious art market in addition to the paintings and illustrations that had been his bread and butter over the years. (Of course, with the advent of AI, the illustration market of today has seen more prosperous days.)
John's list of awards and honors is long and includes over twenty prestigious gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators. In fact, he was inducted into their hall of fame in 2012. John has also served as a guest lecturer at a number of different universities--from Syracuse University to the University of Delaware. He was also celebrated by the University of Kansas with the Joyce C. Hall Distinguished Visiting Professor.
With his works having been on prominent display from New York City to Dallas, Texas and beyond, John Collier's impact on the art world can't be overstated. As a Catholic (and son-in-law), the faith and hope of salvation infused into his works is so refreshing compared to the relative darkness of so much modern art. If Flannery O'Connor taught us in words how the most imperfect, damaged characters can nonetheless at times fall and and trip there way into grace and self-awareness of the need for Christ's salvation, John's pictures remind us that God treasures us so very much that He embraced the cross for our sins, teaching us the meaning of love. In paintings such as The Annunciation, John's reenvisioning of this classic scene in such a fresh, beautiful, and yet reverent way is a particularly moving example of his artistic vision.
Today, John and new wife Dr. Karen Seals are happy to call Lawrence, Kansas their home.
While perhaps most associated with the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero, John actually began his career in the illustration market in New York City. Over many years, John slowly began to pursue art in the religious art market in addition to the paintings and illustrations that had been his bread and butter over the years. (Of course, with the advent of AI, the illustration market of today has seen more prosperous days.)
John's list of awards and honors is long and includes over twenty prestigious gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators. In fact, he was inducted into their hall of fame in 2012. John has also served as a guest lecturer at a number of different universities--from Syracuse University to the University of Delaware. He was also celebrated by the University of Kansas with the Joyce C. Hall Distinguished Visiting Professor.
With his works having been on prominent display from New York City to Dallas, Texas and beyond, John Collier's impact on the art world can't be overstated. As a Catholic (and son-in-law), the faith and hope of salvation infused into his works is so refreshing compared to the relative darkness of so much modern art. If Flannery O'Connor taught us in words how the most imperfect, damaged characters can nonetheless at times fall and and trip there way into grace and self-awareness of the need for Christ's salvation, John's pictures remind us that God treasures us so very much that He embraced the cross for our sins, teaching us the meaning of love. In paintings such as The Annunciation, John's reenvisioning of this classic scene in such a fresh, beautiful, and yet reverent way is a particularly moving example of his artistic vision.
Today, John and new wife Dr. Karen Seals are happy to call Lawrence, Kansas their home.
LINKS:
A Conversation with John Collier (Sounds and Words Podcast)
Hillstream (Agent)
"The Stuff that Gospel Art is Made of" (NCR)
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (Creation of Memorial)
Wikipedia
Society of Illustrators’ BIO
A Conversation with John Collier (Sounds and Words Podcast)
Hillstream (Agent)
"The Stuff that Gospel Art is Made of" (NCR)
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (Creation of Memorial)
Wikipedia
Society of Illustrators’ BIO
Carroll Collier
Carroll Collier, a World War II veteran and child of the Great Depression, knew hard times, yet every time I visited him, I was struck with his gentle and kind demeanor. Likewise, his paintings reflected this personality as much as they demonstrated the beauty of God's creative hand. One gallery used the word calm to describe his style, one where he rarely used the traditional artist's brush, and that word does go far in describing his pastoral landscapes. One can't be in a hurry or feel rushed when viewing Carroll's work. The paintings will likely draw you into the scene of a dilapidated barn in the background with golden wheat in the foreground or perhaps a Texas bluebonnets--such as the painting that hung in the White House years ago. Whatever quiet and peaceful scene greets you, the common theme is one of calm serenity and the wonder of creation. We miss you.
| Carroll Collier Obituary (Forney News).pdf |
Mildred Collier
Mildred Louise Ferguson Collier was an artist in her own right, and while she didn't appear in galleries as far as I am aware, the family and friends who were gifted her paintings received true joy. Visiting Carroll and Mildred one always sensed a welcoming and joyfulness when you entered their home in Forney, Texas. The paintings caught a bit of this as well, bringing her treasured handiwork to loved ones.
This is one family where the arts run as deep as their love for each other. The legacy of each is not found in their own work alone, but the art of the generation following in their footsteps.
This is one family where the arts run as deep as their love for each other. The legacy of each is not found in their own work alone, but the art of the generation following in their footsteps.
| Mildred Collier Obituary (Forney News).pdf |
