We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emilygrace Piescki a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Emilygrace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Two passions have accompanied me since childhood: the captivating wonders of nature, and self-expression through art. I have always been certain that I wanted to work in the arts; to try my best to capture the delicate details of nature or express the personality of the animals in my paintings. As a child, my pockets would be filled with stones, feathers, and other treasures I’d find, and my backpack would be weighed down with field guides from which I’d copy the diagrams. My family always nurtured my creativity and curiosity and has encouraged me to follow my creative instincts. It was never a question of if I’d become an artist, only a question of how. I began with community mural projects, photography gigs, and selling my paintings at local punk shows.
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Summa Cum Laude, from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford, ready to leap into the professional art world, however, the complications of the pandemic carved a new path for me. To escape the panic and claustrophobia of that time, I spent even more time in the woods, drawing, sketching, and tripping over branches. I set my focus on literary magazines and was published in Wild Roots 2020, Lucky Jefferson 2020, and Unlimited Literature 2020. Once it was safe to connect with people face to face, all I wanted to do was share the beauty of nature with them. I worked with organizations as an environmental educator and art teacher. This unlocked another love of mine, working with children. In 2022, I began working with special needs children which inspired me to become a teacher, all the while creating pet portraits and working for HOOK Magazine.
Now, I’m pursuing my Masters in Teaching at The State University of New York at Potsdam, eager to merge my passions for art, science, and education. I have big aspirations for becoming an art teacher who goes above and beyond to infuse my instruction with explorations, and curiosity, about nature, science, music, and culture. I am already designing authentic artistic experiences for my future students which will not only strengthen their art skills and appreciation, but also develop their sense of empathy, curiosity, and discernment.
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?
Much of my inspiration comes from the past, scientific illustrations, and delicate antiques, I collect dollhouses and miniature things and of course, the trinkets I find in the woods. At times, the trinkets became the canvases, feathers, and mushrooms became surfaces to paint on. Growing up in the Hudson Valley, New York, there was no shortage of natural inspiration from the Hudson River to the mountains and lakes of Harriman State Park. There was always a creek to play in, deer to watch, and frogs to catch. This childhood curiosity fuels my artmaking process today.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The most essential lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that being a working artist meant relying entirely on the income from my art. Until I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, I thought that pursuing any path outside of selling my art would mean I had given up on my dream. I realize now that fear controlled this idea, and that taking a leap into the world of education was the best way to nurture and empower my artistic journey. As a teaching artist, I can weave together all the elements that drive me. It will provide the opportunity to make art continuously, explore new mediums, and infuse play and whimsy into my personal work. It will afford me the time to pursue my artistic aspirations like children’s book illustration, licensing, and pattern design. The best role model of the teaching artist is my father who has remained an incredibly talented and prolific musician throughout his simultaneous teaching career.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Amidst the ever-changing landscape of the art world, I believe the best way society can benefit human artists is to create more. Everyone should be making more art, not to profit from, but to delve into one’s creativity, and self-discovery. The more creative we become, the more we value each other’s creativity, effort, and craftsmanship. We come to recognize the quality of specially made items and seek out art with spirit. I say let technology handle the work that is analytical, droning, and empty of emotion, and pour our time into designing, creating, and storytelling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wilyillustration.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: wilyillustration
