About
ARTIST STATEMENT
A kale smoothie is not going to fix this.
Many of us have been through something huge that is invisible to those looking in from the outside. Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, even those closest to you aren’t able to provide any practical support.
Most people don’t really have the understanding or vocabulary to help someone navigate a mental health situation. I’ve heard so many well-meaning yet completely useless, frustrating, and ultimately infuriating suggestions.
No, fresh air won’t cure a mental health condition.
Taking up bushwalking doesn’t ‘fix’ anxiety.
My work is an exploration of the mind when people offer their unsolicited and ill-informed advice. The titles of the pieces are meant to satirise, but also evoke thought and introspection. The work aims to provide a voice for those who too often are ignored, dismissed, and disbelieved.
Hopefully people will reconsider telling a friend they should try green tea to cure their depression.
ABOUT ME... Written by my very talented Copywriter husband...
Since Emma first mashed a handful of paint onto paper as a toddler, she has loved creating. Few get the opportunity to turn that passion into a viable vocation, but those who do, like Emma, develop their skills over many decades of learning and practise.
With a Bachelor of Creative Industries with Honours in Fine Painting, and postgraduate Fine Painting study at the Colorado Academy of Visual Art, Emma laid a foundation for a lifetime of art creation. Having worked at Ryan Renshaw Gallery in Brisbane, and then teaching and leading the Art Experience Program at Sydney Children’s Hospital, many years of honing her craft have become her profession.
Exhibitions in Sydney and Brisbane, and volunteering in several Arts in Health programs have exposed Emma’s work to a wide audience.
Her work explores the use of colour as therapy and catharsis, touching on relatable themes and delightful visuals.
After an accomplished career in education, Emma is now dedicated to creating art full time. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and three rambunctious children.