Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Keating Snyder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
It’s funny when people ask me when I became an artist because it’s such a part of who I am that it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when I started thinking of myself as one.
I remember having a friend as a child whose mom was an artist and when I heard that, I thought wow that’s really a job, I want to do it!
As I got older it started to feel less realistic, but it was always in me that if I could make it happen that was the goal.
Emily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Beginning a career as a fine artist takes a lot of trial and error. It’s not a straight path compared to other fields. But being creative and unafraid of taking chances, I’ve been able to figure things out as I go.
I started by showing my work anywhere I could, from coffee shops to local galleries in NY and LA. At the same time I was googling and YouTubing to learn more and more about online marketing and social media to build a following. I also continued reaching out to art galleries and interior designers (and still do!) to get my art in front of more people I thought would resonate with it.
As a fine artist I create original abstract paintings incorporating embroidery and also sell prints of my work. My hope with my art is to bring beauty to as many spaces and people as I can. But I really feel like the real goal is to bring joy to people.
Bright colors definitely help me evoke more happiness and play. And I think what also resonates with people is the tradition of embroidery that often reminds my collectors of their grandmothers or people who shared crafts with them when they were young. I love that sense of connection.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think one of the best things we can do to encourage creatives as a society is to let go of the old myth of the starving artist. It’s something we tend to instill in people so young, this flawed concept that you can either be creative or make money.
Even if a young person doesn’t ultimately choose to be an artist or a writer or a dancer, anyone’s education and career would benefit from more creativity.
Growing up being an artist seemed so out there, but it would be great if more people saw examples of working creatives early on. Just normalizing the idea that it’s a totally possible career path would be so helpful.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building an audience on social media can sometimes feel like if you aren’t in the right place at the right time with the right viral post you’re never going to grow. But on my path I’ve learned that slow and steady is just as powerful.
What clicked for me was when someone encouraged me to spend more time engaging with others than posting my own content. It’s like putting yourself out there a little more to connect with others and it really makes a huge difference.
I would say posting consistently on Instagram a few times a week (for my own sanity I don’t post every day!) is still a great strategy. And making sure to respond to comments and definitely comment on other people’s posts in your field is the key.
Contact Info:
- Website: emilykeatingsnyder.com
- Instagram: @emksnyder