Ēra Zalcmane

Is a graduate of the Graphic Art Department of the Latvian Academy of Art. She has obtained a Master’s Degree in Art, has studied psychology at the International Higher School of Practical Psychology and has obtained a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Latvia. She is a member of the Association for Art Therapy and the Latvian Association of Practical Psychologists. She has worked at Baldone School of Art, at the Latvian Academy of Culture, at the International Higher School for Practical Psychology and the Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Art of the University of Latvia. She has taught several subjects in art: composition, colour use and painting. Zalcmane is involved in silk painting. She is a specialist in the psycho-physiology of colour and in art therapy. She has taken part in exhibitions since 1987 and has held three solo exhibitions.

Zalcmane has been involved in book illustration since 1989. She has taken part in international book art exhibitions: the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (1997), the exhibition “World Illustration “98” in Bratislava and an exhibition of book art in Japan in 1998. She has collaborated with the publishers Artava, creating book illustrations and cover designs (e.g. “Viks Gives me a Kiss” – Viks Dod man buču. R.: Artava, 1995). Zvaigzne ABC has published an ABC illustrated by Ē. Zalcmane (I. Strelēvica. “I”m Learning to Read” – Es mācos lasīt. R.: Zvaigzne ABC, 1994) and a book “The Complicated Sparrow Chick” by Viks with her illustrations (Sarežģītais zvirbulēns. R.: Zvaigzne ABC, 1997), an outstanding work written back in 1982, in the series Sprīdi pa sprīdim. In 2003 she illustrated two fairy-tales by the 19th century German writer Theodor Storm: “Die Regentrude. Der kleine Häwelmann” (Divas pasakas. Translated by S. Brice. Aizpute: Harro von Hirschheydt, 2003).

By creating the illustrations, the artist lives through the text. By drawing a world of moods and images, he or she gives the child the chance to travel in the imagination. (Ēra Zalcmane)