
“When I really look at the entire picture, I am reminded of something evolving. It is so peaceful, almost nurturing.”
~ Carolyn

"To describe Erin’s abstract work is pretty difficult. Not because it is confusing or nonsensical, but quite the opposite. To me most abstract is nonsense and I feel zero connection but I see glimmers of genius and intelligence in Erin’s work.”
~ Matt

"Your abstract work is very fluid and continuous, always flowing towards and away from an unknown starting point. It very much reminds me of the ocean or a feather blowing in the wind. To me, it really mimics the ebb and flow of life."
~Ashley

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022 - Current Principal Artist / Owner Event Painting By Erin
2016 - Current Art Teacher Grades PreK - 12
2013 - Current Principal Artist / Owner Paint Sip Fun Inc.
1998 - Current Artist / Designer / Educator / Owner Erin Leigh Studios
2009 - 2013 Artist / Graphic Designer / Owner Xyngmall
2008 - 2009 Art Teacher Substitute Grades 1-6 Pioneer Valley Montessori
1996 - 1999 Interior Design Assistant & Office Manager Homeworks Inc.
1995 Interior Design & Administrative Assistant Earl Flansburg & Associates
GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, JURIED SHOWS & AWARDS
2025 Solo Exhibition, Calming Chaos, Jorgensen Gallery, Storrs, CT
2023 Solo Exhibition, Endangered Animals, Brooks Room Gallery, Wilbraham, MA
2020 Juried Group Exhibition, The House of Art, Monson Arts Council, Monson, MA Honorable Mention
2020 Juried Group Exhibition, Big Cats, The National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, WY 2009 Solo Exhibition, Full Autonomy, Starbucks Gallery, Avon, CT
2008 Juried Group Exhibition, Dane Gallery and Gallery 137, Springfield, MA
2007 Juried Group Exhibition, The House of Art Gallery, Monson Arts Council, Monson, MA Honorable Mention
2006 Solo Exhibition, Fruitful Abundance, Starbucks Gallery, Longmeadow, MA
2005 Two Woman Exhibition, The Fruits of our Labor, Dane Gallery, Springfield, MA
2004 Solo Exhibition, I am Mother, Val-Ray Gallery, Glastonbury, CT
2003 Juried Group Exhibition, The House of Art Gallery, Monson Arts Council, Monson, MA Best in Category
2001 - 2003 Juried Show, Celebrate West Hartford, West Hartford, CT
2001 - 2003 Juried Show, Apple Harvest Art Show, Southington, CT - Best in Show
2001 - 2003 Juried Show, Meet the Artists and Artisans, Mystic, CT & Milford, CT
2001 - 2003 Juried Show, On the Green Art Festival, Glastonbury, CT - Best in Category
2001 - 2003 Juried Show, The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, Mystic, CT
2002 Group Exhibition, Our Flag was Still There, Dane Gallery, Springfield, MA Exhibit also traveled throughout New England & New York
2002 Juried Show, Wickford Art Festival, North Kingston, RI - Honorable Mention
1998 Juried Show, Cultural Arts Alliance of Hopkinton, Hopkinton, MA - Best in Show
1994 Group Exhibition, BFA Senior Exhibition: 1994, The Pit Gallery, Storrs, CT
1994 Group Exhibition, Advanced Photography Student Show, The Pit Gallery, Storrs, CT
1993 Solo Exhibition, Broken Reflections, Fine Art Quadrangle, Storrs, CT
EDUCATION
2023 Coursework in Glass, Kiln Casting with Dori Guthrie, Snow Farm, Williamsburg, MA
2023 Coursework in Clay, Introduction to Hand Building, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
2022 Coursework in Metal, Beginner Metalsmithing, Silver Spiral Creations, WInstead CT
2022 Coursework in Glass, Lampwork 101, Silver Street Glass, North Granby, CT
2017 Coursework in Oil Painting, Smith Art Museums, Springfield, MA
2001 Coursework in Figure Drawing, Smith Art Museum, Springfield, MA
1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
COLLECTIONS & COMMISSIONS
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:
INTERNATIONAL: Canada, Denmark, Dubai, England, Italy, Mexico
NATIONAL: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, West Virginia
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS:
Worthington Vineyards, Somers, CT
Writing in the Skies , Westhampton, MA
Pioneer Valley Montessori, Springfield, MA
St. Mary’s Catholic School, Longmeadow, MA
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
2025 Newspaper: Maina Durafour, New Alumni Exhibition “Calming Chaos”, The Chronicle CT, Vol. 142
No.42, February 19, 2025, https://www.thechronicle.com/news/new-alumni-exhibition-calming-chaos/article_edba7256-ee3b-11ef-82ed-4f532d5ea877.html
2025 Newspaper: Amanda Munson, “Teens enjoy “Paint, Sip, Fun” night”, The Wilbraham-Hampden
Times, February 6, 2025 https://wilbrahamhampdentimes.turley.com/wht-archives/WBH020625.pdf
2024 Newspaper: Noelle Hisgen, “Kids and teens get artsy at Paint, Sip, Fun”, The
Wilbraham-Hampden Times, August 1, 2024 https://wilbrahamhampdentimes.turley.com/wht-archives/WBH080124.pdf
2020 TV: Rachel Lutzker, Paint Sip Fun is offering free virtual painting and drawing classes,
WTIC-TV/Fox61, Hartford, CT, March 25, 2020.
2020 TV: Ciara Speller, Stuck at home bored? Try virtual painting, drawing classes, WWLP TV/22News,
Springfield, MA, March 25, 2020. https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/stuck-at-home-bored-try-virtual-painting-drawing-classes/
2020 TV: CBS Miami, How to socialize safely in the era of Coronavirus, WBFS TV / CBS 4, Miami, FL,
April 8, 2020
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/coronavirus-safe-at-home-socializing-in-the-era-of-covid-19/
2018, 2020 BOOK: Boughamer, Erin Leigh, 13 Much, Self Published, June 2018 and June 2020.
Author, Artist, Designer, Editor, Self Published
2007 BOOK: Carter, Sheryl Rain, 2019, Ma’heo’o Reiki, Lulu Publishing, July 2019
Contributing Author, Illustrator, Designer, Editor, Publisher
WORKSHOPS / LECTURES
2021 “UCONN School of Fine Arts Career Panel / Art & Art History”, School of FIne Art Alumni, panelist,
UCONN Center for Career Development, Storrs, CT October 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrKw9UW4ElQ
2022 “Fine Arts 101: Virtual Paint Night”, UCONN Alumni Events, presenter, UCONN Alumni Relations,
June 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IWI3UBhcj4
2020 “Paint Sip Fun with UMASS”, UMASS Homecoming 2020, presenter, UMASS Amherst Alumni
Association, October 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCxK93ussII&t=108s
2020 “Paint Night with UCONN Alumni”, UCONN Alumni Events, presenter, UCONN Alumni Relations,
413 . 262 . 1537
insta @meeterinleigh

Explore Erin Leigh's latest series titled "Calming Chaos" A collection that celebrates the tranquility and peace that exists even amidst life's mayhem and discord.

Get lost in the myriad of Erin Leigh's drawings and paintings form the past 25 years. These artworks are a testament to her ever evolving need for exploration within her body of work.

From Wine Label Art to Architectural Drawings, Treasured Object Collages to Wedding Portraits. A commission piece designed completely around your needs to fit your space.

Explore Erin Leigh's latest series titled "Calming Chaos" A collection that celebrates the tranquility and peace that exists even amidst life's mayhem and discord.

Get lost in the myriad of Erin Leigh's drawings and paintings form the past 25 years. These artworks are a testament to her ever evolving need for exploration within her body of work.

From Wine Label Art to Architectural Drawings, Treasured Object Collages to Wedding Portraits. A commission piece designed completely around your needs to fit your space.
Born to an artistic family, I had always been surrounded by art and creativity. Went to college for art, worked in creative and artistic jobs in and out of college, even created five art related businesses. Art was, and still is my safe space. At the age of 45, I went through a major life event that was so traumatic, it shook me to my core. I again needed art to help me heal, although this time my studio work was much different.
For the first part of my life, my art was created from either a place of logic or a place of emotions. I either worked in a very regimented architecturally precise way planning everything and using rulers, compasses and mechanical pencils. Or, I would find myself emotionally slinging paint with my hands or sticks or scribbling with charcoal in a free spirited abstract way without any plan as to it's outcome.
Today, in my early 50's I realize in order to achieve inner peace, I needed to embrace both sides of my personality, and both sides of my brain simultaneously. To live inside the eye of the storm even amidst the chaos, and to create my art using both methods, being restrictive and precise as well as being free flowing and whimsical. Welcome to my small part of the world I call "Calming Chaos".
"Your paintings remind me of the peace and quiet I feel
when I am sitting looking out over the ocean,
feeling the wind and hearing the waves crashing."
~ Arlene






"Erin's [abstract] work is soulful, high energy with music in the movement. Her fine lines and strong brush strokes are very lyrical and seem poetic in their intertwined imagery. The layers reveal one image and message after another. There is a strong juxtaposition between the rough and smooth textures and the contrast of values. "
~ Nancy

"These [paintings] are highly evolved very graceful abstract forms, loose yet deliberate. The process is very well executed."
~ Dan

"When I look at your work, I think that it is like the dichotomies we see everywhere - light and dark; hard and soft; stability and insecurity; warm and cold. I would describe your [abstract] work as courageous. In not including color or clear representation of a particular object - it forces us to use our own imagination and open our minds to see/feel what it means to us, rather than being told what it is supposed to be."
~ Stephanie

For the first time ever, Calming the Chaos is opening a founding cohort — a curated, intentional 6-week studio experience designed for deep creative embodiment, nervous-system calm, and meaningful transformation.
This is more than a class. It’s a creative sanctuary where:
➡ you slow down and come back to yourself
➡ you discover deeper calm through making
➡ you explore creative process without pressure or perfection
➡ you help shape future online courses, retreats, and programs
As a Founding Member, you will receive:
✅ Founding Member rate — exclusive early pricing
✅ Limited seating (only 12 people) for intimate connection and support
✅ Priority access to future offerings including online courses and retreats
✅ A circle of creative peers — each person invited to co-create this first cohort
✅ Access to behind-the-scenes insights and community feedback
This first series is a pilot — a living, evolving model.
Your voice, your experience, and your feedback will help shape what comes next in the Calming the Chaos journey.
“We had an amazing time painting together — Erin’s calm, supportive direction helped everyone feel confident and proud of their work.”
- Paint Sip Fun Attendee
“Erin guided a fabulous class where everyone was encouraged in their own creativity. Whether you’re experienced or a beginner, her instruction makes art fun and accessible.”
- Paint Sip Fun Attendee
“Wonderful times were had! Great instruction plus the freedom to explore your own expression — perfect balance.”
- Local Reviewer






In a world of contrast and duality, my mission is to live a life of peace and balance through the autonomous exploration of art. I'm also driven to empower and inspire others to find their own inner peace and happiness with art through workshops and retreats.
Copyright © 2026 Erin Leigh Boughamer | Abstract Expressionist Artist + Educator - All Rights Reserved.
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