Erika S. Rose
Visual Artist & Design Strategist

1) Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
I’m Erika S. Rose, a visual artist from Virginia currently residing in LA. During the day I’m a freelance Art Director and Graphic Designer working with nonprofits and small businesses—and by night I’m an illustrator and animator. I’m passionate about creating art that is both inspiring and entertaining. So in 2015, I started searching for positive affirmations and began pairing them with illustrations. I did this as a way to inspire myself and others to do some self-reflection and take action on that “thing” we can change to make us a little bit happier or… (fill in the blank). Over 200 posts later, I decided to turn that idea into an animated series that I just launched on YouTube this November. It’s called Tiny Fros. You can also find it on Instagram at @tinyfros.

2) How did you first become interested in art?
I have many creative people in my family—from stylists to painters. So I became interested in art at a very young age. It was in elementary school that I realized I liked to draw and craft. And like a lot of kids, I also loved Disney movies. It was exciting to me that I could redraw the classic characters like Mickey, Simba, and the princesses. Once I was old enough to learn that I could do that for a living, I decided I wanted to be a cartoonist.

3) How does art enrich a community, and what are some ways people can engage with art in Burbank?
Art starts conversations. It gives people something to be curious about and interpret in many different ways. I love the painted electrical boxes around the city. It’s worth it to drive around to see all the different styles of art. It really does add interest to unexpected areas.

A good way to engage with art is to attend festivals (when there’s no longer a pandemic) or search social media. There are a lot of local artists and artisans showcasing their creations. Spreading the word about your favorite artist/s is a great way to help them market.  Supporting artists by buying a unique piece or donating so that they can continue to thrive encourages artists to keep going and inspires others to create as well.

4) If you could share with our community one thing about art, what would it be?
Keep creating. Art is subjective, but if you’re inspired to create, create! Someone out there is looking for your special thing.

To find out more about Erika’s work, visit her website erikaSrose.com and tinyfros.com, or follow her on Instagram at @tinyFros