Sight-impaired artist H. Eric Hartman is a native of New Orleans. He grew up on the banks of Bayou St. John in the shadows of City Park's moss-laden Live Oaks and Magnolia trees that surround the New Orleans Museum of Art. Although he always exhibited artistic talents, a rare degenerative eye disease, Choroideremia, greatly discouraged his pursuit of a career in art. He reluctantly decided to pursue a Banking career , relegating Art to a hobby.

During his 15 years in Banking, Eric's passion for art grew while his peripheral vision disappeared leaving him legally-blind with only extremely limited central vision and severe night-blindness. Finally realizing that his artistic talents were a Gift that must be pursued, he opened his art studio in 1995. His total loss of peripheral vision simply meant that there were fewer distractions. Papier Mache' sculptures became his passion. Self-taught, he worked for 10 years as a sculptor achieving first regional and ultimate national recognition for his work.

Eric left New Orleans in 1997 on a four year sojourn to Cape Cod and New England. He turned his artistic endeavors towards oil paintings under the tutelage of the noted Cape Cod artist, Arnold Demarais, in classes on held the Cape and in the South of France. He traveled throughout the New England region, experiencing and painting the both beauty and colors of the Four Seasons and the majesty of the Atlantic Seashores.

Returning in 2000 to his true home, New Orleans, Eric has continued to paint. Sensing that he was being drawn more towards Impressionism, he has also studied extensively with Lois Griffel, director of the Cape Cod School of Art and author of Painting the Impressionist Landscape. In 2003, he spent two weeks in the mountains of Jackson Hole, WY studying with Scott Christensen, an nationally award-winning Landscape artist and author of On Distant Ground, The Art of Scott Christensen " In 2004, Eric's painting of "Return of the New Canal St. Streetcar at Mandina's" has been purchased by the New Orleans RTA for the cover of the invitations to the Canal Streetcar Grand Opening Celebration. His works have been selected for numerous nation art exhibitions, including successful openings in Chicago, Washington, DC and Sonoma, CA. His works are privately held from the White House to the Wine County of California and internationally from Australia to England.

Rich in the traditions and cultures of Southern Louisiana and drawing from his travels, Eric draws his inspiration for his paintings from the natural beauty he sees around him. "I try to paint an invitation for the viewer to step into the feeling of the Moment, Time, Temperature and the effects of Light on the subject. I tend to lean towards Impressionism. Not so much details as conveying the vibrations and interactions of colors. Seeing life through the eyes of an artist enriches and challenges me. Every sight is a Gift to enjoy!"