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

Hi Emma, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned the art of Art from so many great people I’ve encountered in my life. First and foremost, my most influential teacher is my grandmother, Ann Manry Kenyon. She is a highly skilled portrait painter, and an inspiration for my life. “Dawdie” showed me that a woman CAN make a good, independent living with her art. I have had the pleasure of studying with my grandmother my whole life— learning from a master and receiving critiques is as good as it gets!
If you want to speed up learning, it’s imperative to welcome critiques from teachers. Assuming your teacher is genuine, he/she wants your work to improve, and is a trustworthy advisor who has valid words to share. Listening to correction is not always good for the ego, but it’s great for the discipline.
Essential skills include: the practice of patience, tenacity and good drawing skills! The climb to success is arduous, and you won’t get there without the skill of patience (especially with oneself) and the compulsion to keep going. If you can see and draw well, you can apply that skill to all of your work, and gain an edge on those without the fundamental skill.
There will always be obstacles, especially fiscal ones. But with tenacity, you will find ways around them. If you cannot afford an in-person workshop, look for an artist on YouTube you admire. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

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.

I’m Emma Sims, a third-generation artist based in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in soft pastel portraiture, pet portraits, and hand-painted ceramics. I grew up surrounded by artists, and that early creative environment shaped the way I see light, emotion, and detail in everything I create. My work focuses on capturing the spirit and personality of my subjects, whether it’s a beloved pet, a family member, or a meaningful moment in time. In 2025, I was honored to receive an award from the Pastel Society of America, a recognition that affirmed my dedication to craftsmanship and storytelling through pastel. I also love extending my art into functional pieces through hand-painted pottery, creating keepsakes that feel personal and lasting. Above all, I want my clients to feel truly seen and connected to the artwork we create together. My goal is always to make something timeless, heartfelt, and deeply meaningful.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I feel so passionately about this! Supporting local artists is such a win-win-win for the creative ecosystem. Local artists provide quality work for their “neighbors.” The money that’s exchanged recycles throughout the community, and benefits more local commerce and artists, and the cycle of creation repeats.
Society can focus on “investing” their money, instead of just spending it. Buying from real people making real things, i.e., handing someone cash instead of another Amazon transaction. Here’s an example of this change: instead of going to big box stores and buying AI reproductions of art with no value, go to local galleries or online marketplaces and invest in artwork made by the human hands that live in your ecosystem. Humanity will be lost without living artists.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Creating a 2-Dimensional “scribble” that makes someone tear up is so magical to me. It feels like gold for the soul! My clients trust in me to paint an essence just as much as a likeness, and that is a responsibility I am honored to take on. I always have a dream for the next project, and I’m never bored!

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @emmasims.art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryemmasimsart?
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryemmasims?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

All images Copyright Emma Sims