The heart I hold
Price range: $39.00 through $692.00
All my work is done using the technique called collage (from the French coller), which translates “to paste,” which is an artistic technique that consists of the construction of plastic works through the agglomeration or conjunction of pieces or cutouts from different origins, “trying” to give a unified tone format. In other words, it is about assembling work with bits obtained from other sources such as photographs, illustrations, Artcraft, images in magazines, and everyday objects.
On a personal level, my artistic style is deeply rooted in Kitsch, a style known for its vibrant colors, bold shapes, and striking elements. I often incorporate illustrations from the public domain into my work. My fascination with antiquities and furniture is a recurring theme, evident in the costumes of my characters and the environments where my works’ narratives unfold.
My image sources can include images and cuttings from very old magazines that are passed through a scanner to be processed into digital format. Therefore, it is very possible that the final prints do not have uniform images and can have different textures.
Creations by Erika C. Brothers are printed on Velvet Fine Art paper, which is heavyweight, cotton fiber, and acid-free. The prints use high-quality inks and cotton paper for a realistic look and feel like original photography oil paintings.
The definition of a giclee is a beautiful, long-lasting technology for fine art or photograph reproduction. It uses a high-quality inkjet printer to make individual copies of different sizes and materials.
For more information on the creativity process of this print, see section of Description, below.
*The prints can take up to 8 to 10 business days to print and ship.
*All prices include shipping costs.
*If your country or region does not fall within the current drop-down list of countries or regions, or if you are in need of additional print sizes not listed. Please contact us for options at sales@kikasworkshop.com or by using the contact form on the main page.
*Depending on the Art print selected, another size may be required due to design and pixels; we would advise if a size change is required. Additionally, color variations from computer to print may vary due to the textures of our Premium Fine Art Cotton Paper.
Please read my Terms of Service. We do not accept returns.
“The heart I hold”, richly layered digital collage centers around a golden anatomical heart that floats mid-air, encased within an ornate, baroque-style frame. The heart, glowing with a luminous, almost sacred presence, is intricately textured with floral patterns and embossed swirls, giving it the appearance of a precious artifact rather than a biological organ. Its golden hue radiates warmth, symbolizing vitality, love, and inner strength. A small safety pin is embedded delicately into its side, suggesting vulnerability and healing, as if it has been mended after being broken.
Emerging from the bottom left corner is a poised, feminine hand dressed in a ruffled vintage sleeve, holding an antique golden key. This key is positioned inches away from a keyhole nestled into the heart—symbolizing access, trust, and the unlocking of one’s deepest emotions or memories. The wrist of the hand is adorned with a pink butterfly, further emphasizing the themes of transformation, delicacy, and rebirth.
The background inside the frame is a rich cerulean blue sky sprinkled with golden stars and stylized, puffy clouds, evoking a dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere. This backdrop suggests a celestial or subconscious realm where inner truths reside. To the right of the heart lies a white pocket watch with a chain, tilted slightly as it rests on a black-and-white checkered floor—a reference to time, memory, and the inevitable passage of both. The checkered floor, often used in surrealist and Victorian-inspired art, grounds the composition with a theatrical stage-like quality, turning this inner journey into a performance of the self.
Surrounding the central scene is an ornate gilded frame embellished with painted flowers: morning glories, carnations, irises, and roses. These flowers bloom vibrantly around the border, giving the entire piece a sense of lushness and romanticism. They crawl over the frame as if nature is reclaiming artifice, merging the constructed with the organic. Interspersed among the blooms are butterflies in hues of purple, blue, and pink—each captured mid-flight, reinforcing motifs of metamorphosis, hope, and ephemeral beauty.
At the top, a cream-colored ribbon unfurls across the arch of the frame, bearing the handwritten phrase: “THE HEART I HOLD.” The text floats gently above the heart, offering a poetic, almost sacred title to the scene. The phrase suggests emotional ownership or responsibility—what we carry inside ourselves, and what we choose to protect or offer to others.
The overall aesthetic is a rich blend of Victorian romanticism, surrealist fantasy, and whimsical storytelling. The golden-yellow border outside the frame harmonizes with the baroque gold of the heart and frame, unifying the composition and making the central teal interior pop even more vibrantly. Every detail—from the lace cuff to the placement of the stars—feels intentional, contributing to a larger narrative about emotional access, time, beauty, and vulnerability.
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| Shipping Regions | Mexico, USA, Canada, Europe & Australasia |
|---|---|
| Portrait Size | 25×20 cm, 28×36 cm, 30×24 cm, 40×32 cm, 40×55 cm, 50×40 cm, 60×48 cm, 70×56 cm, 80×64 cm, 90×72 cm, 100×80 cm, 120×96 cm, 8×10 inches (20×25 cm), 9×12 inches (23 x30cm), 11×14 inches (28x36cm), 18×24 inches (46x60cm), 16×20 inches (50×40 cm), 20×24 inches (40x60cm), 20×40 inches (40x100cm), 24×30 inches (60x76cm), 24×36 inches (60x91cm), 30×45 inches (76x114cm), 20×25 cm (8x10in), 28×36 cm (11x14in), 30×40 cm (12x16in), 40×50 cm (16x20in), 48×60 cm (20x24in), 60×80 cm (24x32in), 70×100 cm (27.55×39.36in), 100×152 cm (40x60in) |
| Shipping Regions | Mexico, USA, Canada, Europe & Australasia |
|---|---|
| Portrait Size | 25x20 cm, 28x36 cm, 30x24 cm, 40x32 cm, 40x55 cm, 50x40 cm, 60x48 cm, 70x56 cm, 80x64 cm, 90x72 cm, 100x80 cm, 120x96 cm, 8x10 inches (20x25 cm), 9x12 inches (23 x30cm), 11x14 inches (28x36cm), 18x24 inches (46x60cm), 16x20 inches (50x40 cm), 20x24 inches (40x60cm), 20x40 inches (40x100cm), 24x30 inches (60x76cm), 24x36 inches (60x91cm), 30x45 inches (76x114cm), 20x25 cm (8x10in), 28x36 cm (11x14in), 30x40 cm (12x16in), 40x50 cm (16x20in), 48x60 cm (20x24in), 60x80 cm (24x32in), 70x100 cm (27.55x39.36in), 100x152 cm (40x60in) |
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