Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emeline Tate. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emeline, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As a child I was always creative. I made my own Cindy and Barbie clothes and before that a dolls house with furniture with the help of my father. Then I made my own clothes, I loved to knit and I even made a patchwork bedding set when I was a teenager. But living in a small village on the south coast of England I had no idea how to make a job with my talents. I went to art school and then fashion college in the hopes of getting a creative job. However I still didn’t know what type of creative career I wanted. The turtors were very good at helping me with my creative side but not with the practical side of getting a job.

Emeline, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My first job in London was as a pattern cutter and then a technical designer. My last job in London was for the creative company Ted Baker. Even though I was working in a creative environment I had a need to make art for myself. So I started exhibiting in my cute little house in Peckham Rye and then at other fun venues across London. Within a few years I did over 20 different pop up art shows! These shows were a lot of fun.

In 2005 I moved to California and had a chance to focus on my art full time. I had my first art show in Palm Springs in 2008 at Janssen Art Space. Due to the economy I was forced to move to Canada. This was when I started creating art digitally. In the past I had said that creating art with the computer was cheating. But actually I found it exhilarating. My clean lines and shapes could be printed with more precision. This is when I started putting my art on products and discovering licensing. For over ten years I have been working with Casetify, one of the most popular phone case companies in the world. I then won several competitions including one with Threadless and a scarf company who got my print and myself on TV.

After discovering my geometric print was horribly stolen online with a variety of companies I decided to return to physical artwork when I returned to California in 2016. Making something with my hands felt more authentic and I felt like it would be harder for companies to copy the type of art that I was making. So today I focus on my physical artwork and my public art work. I am now working with two galleries in California and would love to work with more.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Even though I have been exhibiting my artwork for over 25 years it is only within the last few years that I have discovered why I make art. Due to trauma in my life I have used my creative outlet to heal. My art appears to seem happy and fun. I also use words to make positive artwork. I have discovered that people that have also dealt with traumatic events or who are dealing with them are attracted to my artwork. So it gives me joy knowing that not only does my art heal me, that it heals others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Recently my life has changed. Something happened to me that was unthinkable. All of a sudden I had to deal with police and deal with issues that could only be sorted out at the courthouse. After having a somewhat constant stream of income I was all of a sudden with zero. I had to use just my art to provide for my family.

While going to a safe house I had an opportunity to get a second gallery, this time in Laguna Beach. So not only did I pack up my car with things for my children and my puppy but I also brought along art to show the new gallery. A few weeks later a friend was concerned for me and told me to take some time for myself. Unbeknownst to them I had planned a trip to the Hotel Del Coronado with a girlfriend to help repair a sculpture there and meet up with my new gallery contacts. Can you imagine being at a five star resort by the beach and being able to paint? Plus I was paid with the best massage that I had had in my life. It was just what I needed.

I was worried that my art would not provide for my family. But I have discovered that this has not been the case and this makes me smile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emelinetate.com
• Instagram: @emeline_tate
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emelinetate/