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

Emily, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I am at the beginning of my professional journey and may not have much career experience to share, but I’ve spent years learning my craft and working hard to complete school through a number of obstacles. I would be happy to talk about my education journey and what kept me going.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Emily J. Person is a “jack-of-all trades” freelance artist, designer, and lover of beauty from New England. She loves to paint custom portraits, tell stories of goodness, truth, and beauty through traditional-media illustration, and dabble in digital illustrative design. Her work is often inspired by vintage books, the natural beauty of the places she travels, poetry, liturgical aesthetics, fashion, ballet, and historic architecture. Compelling stories that ring true, like those of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, are also an endless source of inspiration to her. An avid reader since childhood, one of her dreams is to help the next generation of bookworms discover the same magic she has always found in illustrated books, and fall in love with the profound power of story. Spending a little over two years in Colorado studying art and roaming in the Rockies opened her eyes to the incredible value that traveling and meeting new people gave to her art practice; she has been caught between wanting to travel the world and settle in small town New England ever since. When not working, she can usually be found meandering through the woods of Connecticut, reading, or sitting across from a good friend in a local coffee shop.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes, I discovered the School of Visual Storytelling and the corresponding podcast (Three Point Perspective) a couple years into my college journey and wish I had discovered it much sooner. The podcast is hosted by three professional and well-known illustrators who I have learned so much from over the years. In a casual conversation style, they have covered topics ranging from art-making techniques to financial or business management to visual storytelling. Their website (svslearn) is also packed with valuable low-cast resources and information.

A book that has dramatically impacted my view of art and work is the War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Again, I wish I had discovered and read it sooner. I recommend it to anyone going into a creative field or industry that will require any amount of self-driven motivation or practice.

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

I think two of the most helpful ways we as a society can better support creatives is to seek out local talent and take their work seriously. There are so many artists in the world and yet because of the internet and new advances in technology, we have become disconnected from our local artisans, craftspeople, and creatives, instead turning to mass-produced content and AI generated work. Supporting local artists not only gives smaller lesser-known creatives a chance, it also builds community, which in turn fosters creativity and opens up new opportunities and ideas. Taking artists and their work seriously is another way to support a creative ecosystem. Learning and developing a craft takes years of hard work, so even when the final product or project appears relatively small or simple, it’s really the result of hours of time investment perfecting the ability to create something meaningful. There is a pervasive idea that creatives are just “born that way” and it’s natural and easy for them to make excellent work. This may sound flattering but unfortunately it devalues the hard work and time they have had to invest, which devalues their work by extension. Creative work may be rewarding and enjoyable but it is still hard work, not a mere hobby, and deserves to be respected as such. Taking artists seriously and acknowledging the value they contribute to society, will enable them to live off their work and continue creating in a sustainable way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emilyjperson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abluebirdwilldo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-j-person-272415186/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/abluebirdwilldo/