About the Artist:
Erskine Wood’s heritage comes from numerous Northwest pioneer families. First to arrive, five generations ago, sailed a ship from Massachusetts around the Horn and up the Columbia River to realize what began later as Portland. This was the place to settle down, start a business, and raise a family. I am humbled by the life and accomplishments these families had. As a young boy in Portland, I thought having a paper route was pretty great. I always enjoyed designing and building projects, starting with tree forts, or small rafts on the Columbia where I could be Tom Sawyer.
Perhaps, only natural that my aspirations turned to Architecture where the projects became much larger. So, I pursued a degree at the University of Oregon, got my license, and worked for an architectural firm for several years, then on my own. At the same time a passion for photography took my spare time. It was all black and white back then, unless you shot Kodachrome. I had my trays of developer, bleach, and wash all lined up in the bathtub; prints pinned to a clothesline to dry.
Most of the photographs were scenery, taken on camping trips with my family throughout Oregon. Friends suggested I take them to Eugene’s Saturday Market in the 60’s. Customers wanted color, so I took my slides to Payless to have them printed. Soon I was busier framing my photographs than I was designing buildings. I built an extensive color darkroom. Before long I opened a tiny gallery at the Fifth Street Public Market. That soon became a larger gallery which lasted 30 years. Numerous pieces have earned Gold Medals and Best of Show awards in International Salons.
When photography went digital, the number of photographers went twentyfold. Soon they learned a world that only I and a few others had to ourselves. No longer did a photographer have to carry a large format camera (for 4”x5” pieces of sheet film) with lenses and tripod in a 60# backpack. Now we get the same quality from our SLR and zoom lens, maybe even a smartphone.…. and digital film is virtually free.
I have been fortunate to travel throughout the United States, parts of Canada, Europe and Asia. Now in my later years, I am photographing as much as ever but participating in fewer galleries and art festivals. More time with friends and my wonderful family.
Erskine Wood’s heritage comes from numerous Northwest pioneer families. First to arrive, five generations ago, sailed a ship from Massachusetts around the Horn and up the Columbia River to realize what began later as Portland. This was the place to settle down, start a business, and raise a family. I am humbled by the life and accomplishments these families had. As a young boy in Portland, I thought having a paper route was pretty great. I always enjoyed designing and building projects, starting with tree forts, or small rafts on the Columbia where I could be Tom Sawyer.
Perhaps, only natural that my aspirations turned to Architecture where the projects became much larger. So, I pursued a degree at the University of Oregon, got my license, and worked for an architectural firm for several years, then on my own. At the same time a passion for photography took my spare time. It was all black and white back then, unless you shot Kodachrome. I had my trays of developer, bleach, and wash all lined up in the bathtub; prints pinned to a clothesline to dry.
Most of the photographs were scenery, taken on camping trips with my family throughout Oregon. Friends suggested I take them to Eugene’s Saturday Market in the 60’s. Customers wanted color, so I took my slides to Payless to have them printed. Soon I was busier framing my photographs than I was designing buildings. I built an extensive color darkroom. Before long I opened a tiny gallery at the Fifth Street Public Market. That soon became a larger gallery which lasted 30 years. Numerous pieces have earned Gold Medals and Best of Show awards in International Salons.
When photography went digital, the number of photographers went twentyfold. Soon they learned a world that only I and a few others had to ourselves. No longer did a photographer have to carry a large format camera (for 4”x5” pieces of sheet film) with lenses and tripod in a 60# backpack. Now we get the same quality from our SLR and zoom lens, maybe even a smartphone.…. and digital film is virtually free.
I have been fortunate to travel throughout the United States, parts of Canada, Europe and Asia. Now in my later years, I am photographing as much as ever but participating in fewer galleries and art festivals. More time with friends and my wonderful family.
From 1980 through 1995, then again starting 2021, Erskine participated in many of the Photographic Society of America's (PSA) International Salons for Color Photography held in this region. A typical Salon would accept a third of approximately 300 to 400 entries for exhibition, from the United States and twenty to forty other nations. The awards and honors won are listed below;
Year, Event, Award, Title & Reference Number
1980 Lane County Fair, First Place Award, Fishing Boats ~ Ref# 76 0052
1981 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, People's Choice, Mt Jefferson at Dusk ~ Ref# 77 1447
1983 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Bronze Medal, International Detail ~ Ref# 85 2247
1983 Vancouver BC-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Lichen on Stone ~ Ref #82 1104
1984 Northwest International PSA,, People's Choice, Seattle, 1984 ~ Ref #84 2864x1
1984 LA County International-PSA, Gold Medal~(SW), Snow Canyon ~ Ref #83 1800
1984 LA County International-PSA, Best of Show~(EW), International Detail ~ Ref #83 1800
1984 LA County International-PSA, Honorable Mention, Lichen, ~ Ref#82 1104
1985 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Atkeson & Gold Medal, Antelope Canyon ~ Ref #81 3220
1985 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Rhythm in Dunes ~ Ref #82 2104
1985 Northwest International PSA,, People's Choice, Canal Scene, Holland ~ Ref #85 3369
1987 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Detail, 37Chev ~ Ref #82 2077
1987 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Coastal Trees ~ Ref #85 3462
1987 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Buck Creek ~ Ref #81 1239
1989 Northwest International PSA,, Best of Animals, Red Fox Pup ~ Ref #89 1678
1990 Northwest International PSA,, Best of Scenics, Mt Rainier, Paradise ~ Ref #89 4479
1990 Great Western-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Grand Canyon ~ Ref #89 4377
1990 Central Washington-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Canyon Detail ~ Ref #89 4399
1991 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Honorable Mention, Columbia River Gorge ~ Ref #91 5366
1991 Northwest International PSA, People's Choice, Bass Harbor Light ~ Ref #91 5145
1993 Northwest International PSA,, People's Choice, Moose Brook ~ Ref #91 6125
1993 Northwest International PSA,, Honorable Mention, Leaves and Rock ~ Ref #91 6113
1994 Northwest International PSA,, Best of Scenics, S-Curve, Coyote Buttes ~ Ref#93 6541
1995 Northwest International PSA,, Best of Scenics, Goose Pond ~ Ref #94 7228
1995 Oregon State Fair-PSA Int'l, Gold Medal, Lightshafts, Antelope ~ Ref #95 7431x1
(no submissions from 1996 to 2020; Oregon State Fair has dropped it’s PSA Int’l Salon)
2021 Northwest International PSA,, Honorable Mention, Dories, Mill Cove, ~ Ref 99 9852
2021 Northwest International PSA,, Honorable Mention, Tunnels Beach, ~ Ref 17 1278
2021 Northwest International PSA,, Judges Choice, Rialto Beach Stones, ~ Ref 02 2171
2021 Northwest International PSA,, Best of Scenics, Mt Rainier, Edith Creek, ~ Ref 20 3577
2022 Northwest Int’l PSA,, Honorable Mention, Antelope Canyon (B&W) ~ Ref 14 5959