63. A peek behind the curtain with Emily
Watercolour artists, Emily and Rachel, talking about our practice.
I first met Emily a few years ago through our mutual friend, Christy, who wanted to stage a little photo shoot while we chatted, ate snacks, and made art. Christy was correct in surmising that we’d get along, as Emily and I are both avid watercolour painters!
Emily sells and commissions her work via Instagram and Etsy. Her subjects include food, landscapes, storefronts, and even trains which evoke a fun and nostalgic sense of place.
Here is a “meta” conversation we had about our art, lightly edited for concision and clarity. We touch on our art backgrounds and rituals; what we’ve learned from artistic “failure”; and our non-visual artistic inspirations.
Rachel: Hi Emily! How are you doing today?
Emily: I’m doing well overall! It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon and I’m sitting in front of my window basking in the sun after a quick downpour and I’m enjoying my second cup of hojicha latte. How about you?
R: That sounds delightful! Love hojicha, I had one this morning as well :) Same here, it’s been a pretty nice Sunday with some shopping and a sushi lunch.
My first question for you is about your art origin story. When did you start drawing or painting – as a child, or as an adult?
E: I started drawing regularly when I was a young child. I loved drawing people, houses, landscapes, anything on the back of recycled pieces of paper! My parents noticed how much I enjoyed drawing so they enrolled me in art lessons on Saturdays. They thought, perhaps Emily would become an artist one day! I started weekly art lessons at age ten for the next eight years. I used all sorts of art mediums but watercolour really stuck with me. I loved the fluidity of the medium, the need to work quickly, the textures you can create with just water mixed with paint. It was so fun! I stopped painting for a few years when I entered university but rediscovered my love for painting during the summer before I started my last year of university…and the rest is history.
I would love to know how you started as an artist too! And can you tell me about your daily routine or ritual when you sit down to make a piece?
R: I agree that watercolour is so simple and enjoyable! It can be invigorating to work quickly and see the tone emerge… or sometimes wait for a section to dry, so you can paint on top for a different result. There’s a rhythm to the painting that ebbs and flows.
Similar to you, I drew a lot as a child. I was a huge fan of Pokemon and Nintendo characters, so they’d occupy most of my drawings. I didn’t take art lessons outside of school, but I took every in-school art course I could, all the way through to Digital Photography, Animation, and AP Studio Art. Middle and high school brought on more of an anime style, and I experimented with digital painting using a Wacom tablet and Corel Paint or Photoshop.
Can definitely relate to dropping art for a bit during intense post-secondary schooling. It wasn’t until 2017 that I tried watercolour for the first time. My friend Sara gave me a Winsor & Newton travel set, and that is still my favourite palette to use.
I wish I had a “daily routine,” but regrettably I paint more seldom than I’d like. If/when I make time to paint when I’m at home by myself: I put on this Spotify playlist of my most evocative, inspiring music, and cover my dining table in a tablecloth, newspaper, or paper towel. I’ll usually leave my laptop open, either for reference images or to find rough inspiration on Pinterest.
What about you, do you have a routine or ritual?
E: I also took most of the art classes my highschool had to offer. I wish I took more in ceramics but that’s cool that we had similar experiences. Also, that’s so great that you have your own Spotify playlist!
I often paint in silence. Sometimes I may have a podcast playing in the background but I find that I’m concentrating so hard on my painting that I’m not focused on the podcast and then I end up having to rewind. Sometimes I may have a Youtube video playing that doesn’t require much concentration as well. I often have a cup of tea or coconut water while painting but I’ve accidentally dipped my paint brush into it before.
Okay, so this may be more of a vulnerable question if you’re okay with me asking - what has been your biggest failure as an artist and what did you learn from it?
R: Interesting that you concentrate so well that the sound essentially drops off your radar! Can definitely relate to dipping my brush in my drink one too many times.
Not too vulnerable, no worries – I’m not sure I can call this an artistic failure, but this is certainly a disheartening aspect of putting my work out there. I table at several local craft fairs per year, and there have been times where I barely make any sales, such that I don’t break even on the table cost. Speaking frankly, in those longer, slower hours, it can be hard to avoid comparing myself with other surrounding tables who appear to be doing better.
I understand there are many aspects of tabling and business that are outside of my control. Sales may be influenced by random factors such as the weather, other events going on that day, or even the location of my table in the event hall. I just try to take those less successful market days as motivation to be better next time. I try to be even more outgoing and friendly with customers, and find events attracting the demographics that tend to resonate with my art. In the long run, the numbers tend to average out, and if nothing else I am introducing new people to my work.
How about you?
E: I still think it’s incredible that you do markets despite the unknowns and some disappointing experiences. I love your perspective on using those experiences to see how you can improve and do better at the next market. I also heard from other artists who do markets, that just because you didn’t make much sales doesn’t mean it’s a ‘you’ problem. Some markets are catered to a certain type of art or audience and it’s all about trial and error to see which markets you do well in.
Hm, in terms of my biggest failure, I’ve had a product launch where I made no sales. It’s disappointing at first, but I’ve also learned to shift my perspective where my goal isn’t to make sales right away. Sometimes I will make some sales later on and it’s a nice surprise when someone buys my art! I think that there are some artists who sell out in the first 5 minutes of launching, for example, but that’s not the reality of most artists. Because social media only shows a slice of that, it can create unrealistic and unhealthy expectations. As such, similar to you, I use those experiences to see how I can do better next time!
If you can grab coffee with any artist, who would it be and why?
R: Thanks for the reassurance. It’s true, every market has a different audience, and social media definitely contributes to expectations of outsized success. But likewise, it’s admirable that you try launching new products even if they aren’t received right away.
If non-visual art counts, I would say T.S. Eliot. He’s one of my favourite poets I studied in undergrad. “The Waste Land” still mystifies and satisfies my imagination in ways I can’t explain. I’d love to ask him how he composed that poem and refined his wildly modern style.
You?
E: It’s funny that I asked you the question but I had a hard time thinking of an artist I would love to meet! To be honest, I don’t have a particular artist in mind, but since you also chose a non-visual artist, I will choose Hans Wegner, who was a Danish furniture designer who designed over 500 chair styles. I think it’s so incredible to have a career where you blend art and design with functionality and your designs become globally recognizable styles even to this day. I’m also a fan of mid century furniture and any functional art pieces.
R: That’s a great choice! I am also a big fan of mid-century modern furniture and leaned on the style for my apartment. I agree, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that other people are using and enjoying our art in their homes and lives.
To wrap up, do you have any plans or goals for your art practice this year? Where can people go to follow your work?
E: I want to step out of my comfort zone this year and say yes to opportunities that come my way. I used to always say no or make excuses because I’m too busy. This year I want to change that! You can follow me on Instagram at @emilyh.illustrations
R: Amazing, I love that goal and wish you luck in taking advantage of exciting opportunities. I think so too – I want to cultivate a more consistent art practice (both visual art and writing on Substack), and hopefully that will attract new collaborations.
Thanks again for chatting, Emily!
Let’s expand the conversation to you, too – whether you consider yourself an ~*artist*~ or not, do you have a creative process or ritual? How about your favourite artists you’d like to chat with over a coffee? Let us know in the comments!