I’m excited to be back today with another artist spotlight. This new interview series has quickly become a favorite, and I’m so glad you all are loving it! I stumbled across the work of Emma Bell on Instagram and immediately fell in love. I’ve had a love affair with floral paintings for as long as I can remember, and Emma does florals so, so beautifully! Today, I could not be more thrilled to introduce you all to the talented artist behind these amazing pieces! I just know you’ll love her work as much as I do!
(floral still life oil painting)
(pink peonies – hand embellished wrapped giclee print)
1. When did you start painting?
I’ve dabbled in painting for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until a move from the UK to Atlanta GA in 2009 that I took up my brushes and palette knife more permanently. I moved with my husbands job, I was pregnant with my first child Alex and decided to utilize my newly found free time (I worked full time in Marketing in the UK) to paint.
2. Tell us a little about your background and what inspires your artwork?
I was greatly influenced as a child by my great grandmother who was a landscape painter. I loved to watch her create her ‘constable’ inspired works. I also sat for hours with my grandfather, whose family were very artistic and creative. I can remember sitting in his sunroom sketching the vast hills and meadows and the odd little farm house we could see from the windows. We also used to play in the garden and study the flowers.
I have painted flowers for as long as I can remember, I find them fascinating and utterly beautiful. Flowers have such a huge but fragile significance in life. I feel sad that they live for only a fraction of time. I watch the magnolia tree in my garden bloom and within a day, the once robust, white petals are wilted and tarnishing to a pale brown. I feel the urgency to capture their beauty on a canvas.
3. Is your artwork representative of your personal style – fashion – interiors? Are you a colorful dresser? What does your home look like?
I do like to coordinate bright colors in what I wear, and I am very much into contemporary interior design.
Having just moved house I’m still working to put my magic touch on it. It is kind of like a blank canvas at the moment. I very much like neutral interiors in gray, and I like to add color to my home in the art on my walls.
4. Where do you create? Do you have a studio?
I have just moved house to accommodate my expanding art business. At my old home I would paint anywhere I could find space which was getting a little inconvenient for everyone, not to mention the accidental splashes of paint everywhere! What is so nice now is that I have my own studio space in my basement. A place I can go and escape, and create to my hearts content!
5. What does an average work day look like for you? Do you paint or do something creative every day?
I try to paint every day. It’s difficult during the summer while my two young boys (Lucas 4 and Alex 6) are out of school. During term time I spend every morning, while the boys are at school, painting or marketing my business on Instagram and Facebook. My afternoons and evenings are then mine to be with my family
6. What is the most fun thing about being an artist?
Making a mess!!!!
7. What is the most stressful thing about being in a creative business?
Prior to being an artist I spent 10 years in a stressful sales and marketing career. Being an artist has really chilled me out, I think I can say I have totally removed any stress from my life. I’ve never been happier!
8. Of all the pieces you’ve painted, do you have a favorite? What do you love painting most?
I feel happiest painting flowers and pretty things. Having a house full of boys, I need that girly release! I have a new favorite painting every time I paint something new.
9. Tell us about your family? Married? Mother? Where do you live?
I live in Atlanta GA. I’m British and my husband and I moved here 7 years ago with his job. We now have two young boys.
10. What are three things you’re loving right now? This can be anything from a particular flower to a certain song…..anything that you’re totally into at the moment.
I love to buy fresh flowers every week, mainly as inspiration but I love nothing more than having a vase of flowers on the table at the heart of the house.
(original oil – vase of flowers)
What a pleasure it was to get to know a bit more about the immensely talented artist behind the beautiful work! As much as I love Emma Bell’s floral paintings I’m also drawn to her beach scenes.
Her work is just so bright and happy! She offers a range of sizes in a number of different styles from abstracts to cityscapes and portraits, but I’m personally partial to her bright, fun and feminine florals. I can’t wait to show you the abstract floral painting I’m using as inspiration for my girl’s bathroom design! More on that coming tomorrow.
Thanks so much to Emma Bell for graciously participating in this artist spotlight interview! She’s also generously offering Our Fifth House readers a 15% off discount with code SAVE15!
WOW! her florals are amazing!