It is my distinct honor to welcome Erin Donahue Tice on the second edition of The Low Down. Erin is an abstract artist based in Austin, Texas who creates original paintings for collectors across the country and has recently expanded her business into tabletop and home decor. Her artwork has yielded a strong demand and has been featured in House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Traditional Home, Southern Home and Luxe Magazine. Erin has three darling young boys and embodies the term working mother. I was first introduced to Erin a few years ago through a dear friend who had moved to Austin. After following her artwork for quite some time on Social Media, I was fortunate enough to go through the commission process with her and currently have two of her original pieces in my home in Arizona. Her incredible up-beat personality coupled with her extreme talent makes her the total package in the art world. When you add on her entrepreneurial spirt and business acumen you have a woman, that in my opinion, has the world as her oyster. I am beyond grateful that Erin has carved aside the time to let you delve into the mind of an artist/entrepreneur and can’t wait for you to walk away with her pearls of wisdom. Welcome, Erin!

Please tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, where did you go to college and what did you see yourself becoming when you were younger.
I grew up first in the Chicago suburbs (until I was eight years old), then we moved to Columbus, Ohio where I lived until I graduated high school. I went to college in Lexington, Kentucky at the University of Kentucky (Go Cats!). As a child, I waffled between wanting to be an actress, a broadcast journalist, a writer and a psychologist. I ended up becoming none of those things, but I can see where those sparks were headed, and how they later translated into my careers as both a PR Executive, and later, an artist.
I would love for you to share your road to becoming an artist and producing some of the most coveted pieces in the art world.
After graduating college with a degree in PR, I started my career in Chicago working for one of the world’s most well-known ad agencies, Leo Burnett. I fell into a niche of doing PR for ad agencies themselves and went on to work within high-profile ad agencies in Chicago and NYC, and then eventually for a PR firm that specializes in representing clients in the advertising/media/entertainment spaces.
I had a thriving career in PR, and even when my husband and I moved from New York to Austin, I kept working remotely for my firm in NYC. We soon had two sons back to back, and after the birth of my second son George, I knew I needed to pull back from my career. I took some time off, but suffered from a lot of postpartum baby blues. My son was very colicky and it triggered a lot of anxiety in me.
I began painting in my guest house as an outlet for stress relief. It soon became an obsession, and six months after painting for fun/stress relief, some girlfriends encouraged me to sell my work.
I had never painted in my life, so this turn of events was quite surprising for everyone, including myself! I had always thought I’d eventually go back to work in the PR world. But I decided to build a website, launch an Instagram page and have a go at the art world. Pretty soon I was off to the races. I still can’t believe it sometimes.
At what point did you see an opening into your new Tabletop venture? What other products would you like to procure and/or produce?
I have always loved to entertain, to throw together pretty tables. I got this trait from my mom, who threw a lot of dinner parties while I was growing up. Once we moved into our new home in 2019. I finally had a formal dining room of my own and really began playing around with creating tablescapes, and would share them on Instagram. To me, it was another creative outlet. A way to mix materials and patterns. The Covid hit. We were eating at home ALL THE TIME! But I still wanted it to feel pretty and festive. So I created A LOT of tables for my family during that time. It was so fun and I began amassing a large collection of vintage china! In late 2022 I decided to finally expand my art business into the tabletop world and am now curating a small collection of beautiful, handmade plates, vases, candlesticks and centerpieces that are sold on my website. It seemed like a natural extension and a way to push my business in new directions.
Do you plan to go beyond tabletop and if so, what would be some of your dream pieces to produce?
I am currently working with a manufacturer to translate some of my new botanical paintings onto textiles and plates. I’m hoping to launch a small collection of products with my own designs within the next couple of months. Think china, throw pillows, fabric, wallpaper. I’m so excited to bring my artwork to life in new ways! I hope people like the way my art translates onto home products.

Where do you see your business in another 5 years?
My dream would be to have a thriving art/design/lifestyle business, with an array of home and entertaining products. I never want to stop painting, though, so I’ll always keep original artwork as part of my offering.
Who has inspired you most along the way?
I would have to say my mom. She’s the first person I show my art and designs to, and she gives great feedback. She also had a thriving career in the insurance world and then later after she retired, struck up a second career and started a catering/charcuterie board business. She is so inspiring and supportive, and is such a hard worker. I think I realize how similar we are the older I get.
What is the best piece of advice you were given? Regarding anything from business to parenting to personal development, etc.?
My old boss at my PR firm, Samantha Digennaro, always stressed the importance of saying thank you. We were instructed to send thank you emails and in some cases notes, immediately after client meetings. Within an hour, if possible. I’ve never forgotten how important it is to show gratitude and I try to take that with me in my art business. Sometimes it can be hard to respond to every message I get on Instagram, but I try really hard to! And I like to send hand-written notes to clients who have invested in my artwork. Saying thank you is so simple, yet so powerful.
What advice would you give to other women who are running a business and raising children?
Pick when to lean in, and when to lean out. You can’t always do it all at once. And that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Sometimes your children will need you more, and you’ll need to make that hard decision to lean back from work a little bit. Sometimes you’ll have an opening to really hustle at work. It’s not a perfect science. I do hope that my kids will eventually realize how hard I work and respect my work ethic. I have the best of both worlds because my studio is at home, so I’m able to see them a lot. I feel very blessed and realize that not everyone has that luxury.
Is there anything you wish someone had told you along the way?
I didn’t realize that an artist wears many more hats than just “painter.” I am also CEO, CMO, IT, accountant, logistics, framer, photographer, and so much more. But I like it this way! It makes it more interesting and keeps me moving from one task to another every day.
What does work/life balance look like for you?
I try to do most of my work Monday through Friday, while the kids are at school, and reserve the evenings and weekends for my kids. That said, sometimes I have deadlines to meet, and need to take a couple hours here and there to get some work done when my kids are around. But balance is a concept I’m always chasing, to be completely honest! Life with three little kids, a husband and a busy career does not provide a whole lot of free time. But I love the hustle bustle, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

What are some of your favorite traditions and do you place a priority on certain things?
We have little traditions around my house. We got a pizza oven a couple years ago and usually do Pizza Night on Fridays. My husband, Bill, is our pizza chef and makes everyone their own personal pizza with whatever toppings we like! We also love Christmas, and like to dress up and go out to a fancy steak dinner on Christmas Eve every year. Our “happy place” as a family is East Hampton, and each summer when we get there my husband takes the kids right to the beach. I am not the biggest beach person, but I swear my husband and my boys were fish in another life!
How, if ever, do you prioritize your well-being? What are some things that you try to squeeze in on a normal busy day that you feel has impacted your day-to-day life?
I find that exercise is a vital part to having “balance,” and if I can get 4-5 workouts in a week I feel like my mind and body are in harmony, and I’m a happier person to be around! When I’m in the zone, I also make a healthy smoothie for breakfast every morning. Sometimes I just sit on my bed alone for 20 minutes and do a quick reset and that gives me a sense of harmony
I know you meet so many inspiring women every day, how do you feel we can better support the motto of “Women helping Women?”
I love this question. Shining a light on other women is so important to my overall mission. I feel like there’s so much competition in the art world, and it doesn’t need to be that way. I believe that if you are a woman with any kind of a platform (on social media, in your community, in your workplace, etc.), then it’s incumbent on you to lift other women up and support them both privately and publicly. I have worked in corporate environments where female support was hard to come by, and I’ve also worked in environments where it was showered upon me in droves. I was more confident and successful in my job the more support I received from other women. I’ve actually read research about the “power of the pack,” and how we are stronger together than apart. Women win when we help each other, not harm each other. Now that I’m in business for myself, it’s even more critical for me to seek out other women whom I can help, and also women who can help me.

How would you describe your sense of style?
Classic, colorful, and a tad eclectic.
What is your favorite splurge or investment “High Bar” piece in your wardrobe?
My Manolo Blahnik Hangisi heels in both black and emerald green. They are the most classic shoe that elevates any outfit and I always feel special when I wear them. They are also comfier than they look and come in different heel heights. You can’t go wrong.
What is your favorite trendy yet affordable “Side Bar” piece in your wardrobe?
Maybe not so trendy, but definitely affordable: I love my Birdies. I have them in probably 12 colors/styles. They are my go-to slip on shoe that is SO comfortable it feels like a slipper. They go with jeans and dresses alike and I wear them almost every day.
What is one thing on your wish list for 2023?
A trip to Morocco with my husband to celebrate my 40th!

Thank you, Erin, and best of luck with all of your exciting endeavors!! I encourage everyone to sign up for Erin’s newsletters here. She has a brand new collection launching online January 26th and if you live in Austin you can view the collection in person on January 27th. Cheers!