Erna has had parallel careers in both environmental science-engineer and art. The interplay of art and science runs through her creations. For 30 years Erna was responsible for large scale remediation and reclamation projects, and she sketched and painted daily. Her art reflects both of these passions.

Erna’s work has been repeatedly chosen for Creede Colorado Arts in the Park is featured featured in Farow and has been shown at Inkberry Books, R-Gallery. She presented two solo shows at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. Erna’s work appears in private homes throughout Colorado and her work has been in a variety of regional art shows and local events.

Erna is a Colorado native and grew up in Alamosa in the San Luis Valley. In 2020 Erna and her family moved to Niwot with the goal of opening a home studio/gallery at 8753 Niwot Road. Working from the Niwot studio, she creates a wide variety of works, using oils, acrylics, watercolor, collage and encaustics.