The Painted Way is a captivating solo exhibition by Erin Eardley, offering an intimate glimpse into her 2024 pilgrimage along the legendary Camino Trail. Over the span of five weeks, Eardley journeyed 800 kilometers on foot across France and Spain, answering a deep personal calling sparked by a previous Camino walk through Portugal in 2019. “Once your feet start walking all day every day,” she shared during a recent studio visit, “you just want to keep going.”

Traveling light, Eardley packed only the essentials—including a small watercolor set, paper, and a pen. Forgoing traditional tools like pencils or erasers, she embraced an intuitive creative process. Each piece emerged organically, painted from reference photos she captured along the trail. Whether at a quiet hostel or a bustling Spanish café, she would sit and paint at the end of each long day—much to the amazement of fellow pilgrims who marveled at her creative energy.

This exhibition features more than 35 watercolor paintings created directly on the Camino, alongside a series of recent large-scale mixed-media works inspired by the same transformative journey. Through her art, Eardley hopes to invite others into the spirit of the Camino, encouraging a sense of wonder, movement, and introspection. “Everyone should walk at least one Camino in their lifetime,” she says. “It forever changes you.”

Join us on Friday, August 1st at 5:30pm for the opening celebration. Enjoy Camino-inspired snacks and refreshments, meet the artist, explore the Kingston Frameworks facility, and immerse yourself in a story of art and self-discovery.