Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Wilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I started my career as an artist a little over two years ago. I am now a full time artist and focus mainly on figurative realism! I was commissioned to create my first portrait for $40 and it was the only one I sold that month. The next month I made $200 in sales. The following month I got a hand full of Christmas commissions and I was shocked so many people trusted me with their gifts. I am now working on my third season of Christmas commissions! One year and two months after selling my first commission, I became a full time artist. Those first few months that I was able to devote myself fully to my studio practice was such an exciting time. Everyone was so supportive of my career and I said yes to every commission that came in. It was a busy season but one that I am so grateful to have experienced. My scheduled has stayed steady since then. Of course there have been times that are slower than others but I continue to be amazed at how many people choose me to create a special piece of art for them.
I sometimes get nervous that my commissions aren’t booked out as far as I would like for them to be. I have found that when I advertise my work or focus on administrative tasks instead of worrying about what I can’t control, the work comes to me. Not allowing myself to focus on the negative or compare my business to others creates a space for my business to grow in the way that it needs. I don’t wish that I could go back and do anything differently, the lessons learned are leading my career to where it needs to be.
Emily, 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?
There are two sides to my work: graphic design and fine art. I have a passion for both. I feel like I get to exercise multiple creative muscles by practicing the two very different forms of art. The art that I create comes out of my studio in Public Works Art Center located in downtown Summerville. I spend so much of my time in that space. My dog has a bed there, I recently added a fun mural, and it’s just a comfy space dedicated to creating.
My graphic design work is bold and colorful. I create a lot of social media content as well as print materials and logo design. My largest piece to date is the building banners hanging outside of Public Works Art Center. The banners are one part of a branding campaign with many other elements slowly rolling out. I also recently designed a mural for the town of Summerville. That project is exciting because it allows me to combine digital art to sketch and plan my design with traditional art bringing the design to life through paint.
My fine art work falls into the category of realism. I use charcoals, soft pastels, and oil paints to create detailed work ranging from portraits to landscapes to botanical work. Most of my work focuses on portraits, both people and pets; however, I am beginning to explore different subjects by dipping my toes into surrealism. I love creating pieces with high contrast; whether it be through color or dramatic shadows, it makes for such a statement in the final piece. One thing that I feel sets my work apart is my ability to capture a person or animal’s essence. Before beginning a portrait, I spend time with reference images and any notes that I have about the figure. Time after time, customers say to me, “You captured their personality in a drawing; I don’t know how you did it.” My ability to see a person for who they are beyond what is pictured in front of me is what sets my work apart.
I have been a creative since I was young. Art has always been a significant part of my life and I would not have it any other way.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
A number of the portraits that I create are of loved ones or pets that have passed. The fact that I am gifted with the ability to create art that captures the memory of loved ones is an honor. There have been many tears shed in my studio when clients pick up their work. Having a special piece of art made that no one else will ever own that captures the spirit of someone that is close to your heart is such a special experience. I can’t describe the mix of emotions that clients go through when they see their work in person for the first time but I can tell you that it is all of the motivation I need to continue on this path as a figurative realism artist.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Working in an art center that is open to the public I get to see first hand the effects that art has on people on a daily basis. People of all ages come together to look at a piece of art and share what it stirs in their minds. The arts offer something to everyone and in return everyone should offer it the respect it deserves. Art should not be treated like a hobby. Art should not be treated like an after thought. It takes guts to put your art work out into the public eye for scrutiny and opinions. It’s not easily done. Tell an artist you are proud of them. Tell an artist that you recognize the hard work that comes with putting your soul on the wall in front of complete strangers. Receiving financial compensation for your art is necessary but hearing that you are doing important work is motivational. To know that someone recognized the process that is creating a piece of art instead of simply saying seeing colors on a wall is support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emilywilsonstudio.com/
- Instagram: @emilywilsonstudio
Image Credits
Caroline Herring