When you view Erin Delventhal’s artwork, you’re instantly transported to the calming rhythm of waves, the glow of tropical sunsets, and the quiet beauty of island life. Her paintings invite you to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the natural world around you.

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Born on a farm in southern Ohio, Erin’s love of wide open spaces and the wonders of nature began early. She discovered a passion for art in childhood, using creative expression as a way to explore the world beyond her rural roots. Her journey in art has always been about pushing boundaries, embracing change, and finding beauty wherever life takes her.

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Erin earned her Bachelor of Arts (Printmaking & Illustration) in Fine Art from Xavier University in 1996, then broadened her creative horizons abroad as a Fulbright Arts Scholar in Hamburg, Germany. There, she studied illustration and sculpture at the University of Hamburg, immersing herself in the rich artistic traditions of Europe by visiting numerous museums and cultural sites throughout the continent.

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Returning to the U.S. in 1998, Erin settled in San Francisco, where she built a successful career as a medical illustrator. Alongside her studio work, she taught painting, drawing, and ceramics at various Bay Area art institutions—sharing her love of art with students of all ages.

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In 2003, Erin followed her heart to Hawai‘i, where the ocean, mountains, and vibrant island life became her greatest sources of inspiration. Her work shifted to landscape and seascape painting, capturing the unique spirit of the islands through vivid color and flowing brushwork & palette knife. Her paintings were represented in local galleries, and she became an active advocate for arts education.

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Driven by a passion for community and creativity, Erin helped develop art programs for schools and founded the Student Farmers Market at Sunset Beach Elementary—a program that connected children to the land and to Erin’s own farming heritage. That same spirit of connection led her to launch Paint the Night Away and Paint the Day Away in 2012, an island-inspired social painting company through which she taught over 3,000 children and adults to celebrate art in a fun, approachable way.

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In recent years, Erin has returned her focus to her personal painting practice, exploring themes of coastal life, island landscapes, and quiet, joyful moments at the beach . Through her company, Art is Swell, she shares her art through curated subscription boxes designed to bring creativity and inspiration into everyday life.

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Whether painting in her studio with the ocean breeze drifting through, or exploring a new corner of the islands with sketchbook in hand, Erin creates with a deep love for place, a reverence for the Earth, and a desire to share the beauty she sees with others.