We recently connected with Emily Fischer and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

In retrospect, I do wish I began my career as an artist sooner in life. I let a lot of fear hold me back. I was afraid of how my art would be received by people, I compared myself to other artists and their skill, and I convinced myself that selling my art would never make money. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that I had a lot of time on my hands. I created more art in one year than I had in three. Solitude forced me to reach out to the world and express myself during a tumultuous and uncertain time. I once read a quote that stated that people hate their own work because it looks like they made it. It will always look like it came from your hands and in return, you hate the most valuable aspect about your art. That quote resonated with me and really made me aware that I was self sabotaging and denying myself the joy of sharing my art. I decided that would no longer hold myself back, and with that came opportunities I could never have dreamt of.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Emily Fischer and I am a Miami based artist. I have explored various types of mediums from oil painting to fiber art but have found myself working primarily in watercolor for my latest body of work. Through illustration, I give the viewer a glimpse into a fantastical world. From angelic creatures to phantoms of the night, I paint portraits of empowered forms that exist only in a world of folklore and fairytales. These portraits are meant to catch a singular moment where the onlooker and the central figure lock eyes. Using contrasts between the stark black of India ink to washes of watercolor pastels in pinks, blues and purples and bright neon Gouaches of greens and yellows, I create a dream-like scene. And like a still frame in slow motion, their hair blowing in the wind and elements surrounding them frozen, I attempt to encompass a mood and story in one image.
I am inspired by great 80’s movies such as The Labyrinth, Legend and The Neverending Story. Strong female leads with more power than they thought, mischievous goblins and fairies, and a sprinkle of good and evil. In my artwork, the viewer might find themselves unsure of who is the heroine and who is the sly villain.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Invest in original artwork and stop buying mass produced art. There is far more beauty and value to be found in a hand created piece. Artists need the support of the community to continue creating. This includes investing money into electives in the education system for our young creatives to supporting seasoned artists to have a hand in development in the community. Think about your favorite place to visit, is it the details in the architecture? The colors of the murals that depict what that place is known for? Art is so significant to every day life- it’s in the design of your favorite book cover to the layout of the menu of your favorite restaurant. Give artists the respect and admiration they deserve.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, inspiring the youth to use their creative outlets is the most rewarding part of my journey. There is so much self-love and healing to be found in the arts. It teaches you problem solving, critical thinking, building of self esteem, and most importantly can give you a sense of purpose in life. When you finish a piece of art you can look at it and say “wow, I did that.” With our hands we weave imperishable creations that can outlive us. And for some, become landmarks of artistic periods. What a gift, to be the hand that creates and inspires.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Emily_Fischer_Art
• Other: Etsy: Emily Fischer Art