All posts tagged: emily louise heard

Answering your Instagram questions

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I get a lot of questions on my Instagram about my practice. So I thought it may be helpful to both my collectors, aspiring collectors and other artists to share a list of those FAQs. Here we go. Where did you learn to paint? This is one with a bit of a back story, so indulge me for a second! I am self taught. I actually studied Psychology at the University of Exeter because at the age of 18 I didn’t think I could make any money as an artist and had absolutely no idea what career I wanted to follow. I mean how many of us actually do at the age of 18? So anyway off I went to uni to study something I found interesting at A Level but let’s be honest, I had no intention of becoming a Psychologist. Surprise, surprise when I graduated and came back from travelling I was lost. In the first few months/years of trying to find a job I was suited for I floated from office job …

Carry beauty wherever you go

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‘When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go’ -Alexandra Stoddard. I hope the beautiful places I carry with me are reflected in my paintings. They always fill my head whenever I’m painting from the ❤️ This piece is called Butterscotch, and is an original oil on canvas. DM me if you are interested in the original. Otherwise I have a range of stunning canvas print sizes available via iCanvas.

Don’t stop chasing your dreams

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I want my art to convey a feeling, an emotion, because trust me they are filled with it. Ever get that feeling when you’re so lost in the process, that your mind drifts away and your heart starts racing? I don’t really know how to describe what painting does, but it’s the best form of escapism. I want that feeling to transcend to those who look at my work. It’s meant to make you feel like you’re drifting, calm, and peaceful. It’s something to look at in your home when you want quiet reflection, inspiration or a zing of energy. I’ve spent years pouring my heart into my art (rhyme totally unintended), every brush stroke is a step on a journey, a leap of faith. It’s a dedicated and unfailing desire to chase a dream that landed on my shoulders when I was 5 years old, staring up at a painting on a classroom wall. It’s a labour of love, a struggle against fear and doubt, and most of all it’s a passion spurred on …

What is it like being an artist?

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Hello to the new faces around here, and thank you for supporting my work! I’m Emily, and I’m an artist from south Wales  I thought I’d share a few thoughts on being an artist from my own experiences. Pursuing the ‘path’ of being an artist, is a bit of a funny one. Over the years it has brought me joy, fear, pride, shame, certainty and more uncertainty than I thought possible all rolled into one weird little cocktail of determination. We are often discouraged to pursue careers in the arts, because of course nothing is certain, and financial stability does not go hand in hand with being an artist. I cannot guarantee that I will sell X amount in any given month. Many people find this whole aspect of being an artist enough to run for the hills. Sure, it can be stressful, and I will admit that it is a bit of a roller coaster. Some months, your sales are up. Some months they are down. It is the nature of being an artist (and …

Divergent | Art is a process of discovery

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I called this piece Divergent, because the meaning of the word resonated with how I felt when I created it: ‘tending to be different or develop in different directions.‘ This piece was different for me, because as a lover of bright and bold colours, I literally had to restrain my hand from reaching for MORE COLOURS DAMMIT I LOVE THEM ALL!! My initial thoughts were that this was more of an exercise in self control than the creation of something I’d be proud of. I’m pleased to say I surprised myself. I’m not usually one for a subtle colour pallet, instead opting for colours that are bright and ‘happy’. However this piece has taught me that sometimes less is more! I’m actually very pleased with the tranquillity and calm of this painting, which in turn makes me feel happy to look at, and I hope you feel the same. I learn something new with every painting. Art really is a never ending journey of self discovery, and I want to keep on skipping, running, ambling, …

Pastel sky painting by Emily Louise Heard

Life without Social Media

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Hello May! Some of you may have read my recent posts on Social Media, letting you know I was taking a short break from the platforms to focus on creativity. I’m thinking more and more that social media, whilst a fantastic platform for creatives, can become a little overwhelming and a bit of a distraction from what really matters. So I’m not sure how long I’ll be away, but I know I definitely need some time off.  If you have had similar nagging doubts about Social Media, and it’s impact on your time and energy, I’d love to know. (If you are reading this from Facebook – I’ve got an automatic sharing link set up, I’m not back just yet!) The short time I’ve been away so far has refreshed my mind and given me a whole new sense of focus. Here’s what I’ve been up to … So many new paintings! I’ve had a flurry of creative energy, whilst I have been cleansing my mind from technology. I’ve added all my new pieces to my …

Don’t let the bastards get you down

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Don’t let the bastards get you down. It’s something people say to encourage you to keep being you, to keep following your path. Ignore the judgement of others, shake off their opinions and carry on shining. But what if the biggest bastard is within yourself? That nagging voice…you’re not good enough. Give up. Why bother? I thought about this today, as I felt heavy with my own self perceived inadequacy. It weighed on my back like a boulder, pushing me deeper into the sofa.. ‘Why bother?’ it whispered. I couldn’t move and drag myself to create, I felt helpless and overwhelmed. We are all our own worst critic. Our own worst enemy, and the biggest hurdle to success than anything else. Where is the saying don’t let YOUR bastard get you down? Because the majority of the time, we don’t have anyone else to blame than ourselves. The good news is that these spells of self doubt are fleeting. We just have to learn to ride the waves as they come, and fight our way …

Control the unicorn inside your head

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Finding your flow as an artist is an ever evolving journey. It’s like chasing sunbeams dancing off walls. You can touch them, watch the light reflect off your skin, magical and illuminating. It’s inspiring, distracting, frustrating and like drowning in oxygen all at the same time. There’s a whole wealth of things to create, and your heart wants to express them in so many ways. The trick to being a successful artist and developing your ‘style’ is learning to control the distracted child, entranced by shiny things, trying to play with them all. It’s something I’m still learning, evolving and trying to control. After several years of battling I’m starting to feel like I have a bit more of a grip on the reigns, to lead this frigging art unicorn inside my mind to the place it needs to go. I’m working on a new collection, inspired by and building on a recent 30 day painting challenge I completed. 🦄🎨❤️ You can watch this here: 30 Day Painting Challenge – YouTube