Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emma Lunica. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emma, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
For me, there’s another angle to this struggle with comparison to a “regular” life, since I do have a regular job, a quite demanding one at that, and I make every effort to be equally devoted to my art practice. As a biology research fellow / PhD student, finding time to create is not always easy. I sometimes look at my coworkers and envy their free time, time that they can give themselves after work to just relax and truly do nothing. But I don’t think I would be happy like that. We all have different parts of ourselves, and I have a pretty relentless creative part of me that demands time at the forefront. I am so much happier, and I feel much more in tune with myself when I satiate the quiet persistence of my creative side. The fulfillment earned by embracing this part of me permeates everything I do and saturates every other part of my life with more meaning. I’ve learned over time how to find balance with it, how to let my artist self reach the depths she needs to without drowning the others, and now it’s like every time I explore with her I resurface with all these gifts I get to spread across the different aspects of my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a painter because I managed to harness that pure human inclination to make and create that every child has and never let go of it. I think this comes out in my work as a sort of purity in intention. I try to dedicate my practice to showing truth, conveying the world around me or my inner landscape with a childlike honesty. I really make an effort to integrate a reverence for the mundane in my artwork. When I paint the everyday scenes I tend to favor, I devote myself to observing intentionally and lovingly and letting that come through in every stroke. I strive to make pieces that invite viewers to become immersed in wonderment with me, because I think a little whimsy is good for everyone. I aim to use oil and other paint media to extract grandeur from the little moments in life, to represent a habit of looking more closely. I also create public artworks for various clients with the goal of introducing effervescent color to larger spaces.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Unfortunately, I’ve already had a few years of my life that were really dark. During those times, it was my creative self that kept the lights on. Working, studying, and keeping up with life’s other tasks only drained me dry when I didn’t have much to pull from. Getting good grades or earning money at my restaurant job didn’t offer me any replenishment or fulfillment, even though that was what conventional wisdom told me I needed to prioritize. Staying engaged in my art practice, spending time in a flow state—that centered me. I found peace in connecting with myself and the world around me on that level, by letting my hands be a conduit for love and gratitude, and painting moments that provided a little light. So now, as I navigate a much brighter world, I am super determined to never lose sight of that and to pay respect to my creativity by being as devoted to my practice as possible.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
By putting energy into it! Like any natural ecosystem, the uniquely human system of creativity that we are lucky enough to ALL be a part of needs to be fueled, and everyone can contribute. Whether by supporting artists financially, emotionally, spatially, or otherwise, we can all play a part in shaping a world where everyone benefits from embracing human expression. Even in our everyday lives, we are constantly faced with choices that represent opportunities to cultivate spaces where people can be free to be themselves. Showing kindness to others and opening our hearts to accepting the truth of who they are I believe paves the way for true creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmalunica.square.site/
- Instagram: @emmalunica
Image Credits
Emma Scales