All posts tagged: inspiration

An Interview with Artist Emily Heard – Whim Online Magazine

Sometimes when you need inspiration or a muse, it can be tricky to find. But recently I stumbled across a beautiful online magazine that is literally BURSTING with inspiration – Whim magazine.  I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have an interview about my art and process published to this wonderful site. If you are looking for a whimsical and dreamy inspiration hit, then look no further! Oh and if you want to learn about my everyday shenanigans as an artist have a read of my interview with them ๐Ÿ˜€ http://www.whimmagazine.com/2016/07/interview-artist-emily-heard/

Vulnerability

I’ve recently decided to start tackling portrait work, as my love of art started with trying to draw people. The only problem I find with learning how to paint portraits is that you can leave yourself a little vulnerable as an artist. People are more likely to spot flaws and when the proportions aren’t quite right. I know I make all of these mistakes when my paintings first start out, but I like to share these early stages anyway. It’s part of my learning process and helps me try harder. Sometimes you can get so close to your work that you fail to spot the mistakes. Until you take a photo and suddenly it’s so obvious! #awkward My point is, art is a journey, a process and a challenge. It’s all one great big work in progress – whether you’ve signed and varnished it or not. โ˜บ It’s part of why I love it.

Beat the January blues

It never ceases to amaze me how works of art can have such an uplifting impact on our emotional wellbeing and connect with us on all levels. I’m in the process of adding lots of new originals to my online store. Head to my website to find a bright and colourful original painting to help combat those January blues.

Painting the future – A wedding gift

  Earlier in theย year, I posted that I was working on a secret painting. That painting was commissioned by a customer who wanted to surprise her sister with a unique wedding present. She askedย me to paint the bride and groom on their wedding day, before the wedding had actually occurred. So I got out my artistic crystal ball (all artists have one on stand by) and tried my best to paint the future… With the brief of a teal theme, white dress, the venue, and a few Facebook photographs of the couple to work from, I had to try and imagine the scene. The most difficult part was deciding what to paint the bride in. Would she be wearing her hair up or down? Veil or no veil? Big dress? Lacy dress? Ivory, white, diamantes, plain or silk dress?? I really didn’t want to get it catastrophically wrong, so aired on the side of caution, aiming to keep it as simple as possible. Painting a couple I have never met, and creating a scene from …

It’s nearly Christmas!

I can’t believe it’s nearly Christmas! Just to say thank you SO much for all your support and encouragement throughout 2015. It’s been a year of colour, exhibitions, and excitement with lots of paintings and prints headed to loving new homes. I’m packing up my paints again for the festive season, and exchanging them no doubt for mulled wine and mince pies… I have my first exhibition lined up for February in Coventry and a group show in London. I can’t wait to see what magical excitement the rest of 2016 brings. Merry Christmas all 🎄โ˜บ Emily x

Put yourself in the picture

I’ve just entered this painting into the Guardian’s latest art assignment. ย For the assignment, critic Jonathan Jones has invited artists toย create their own self-referential work of art about art. This theme could be interpreted in any way. This is how I chose to interpret it: “I think the primary goal of art is to connect with others, tell a story, and convey emotion. Artists often make themselves vulnerable by sharing what is in their hearts with those around them. They do so with the hope that others may gain a positive experience from an insight into their vulnerability. For my contribution, I wanted to include one of my paintings that has a powerful emotional significance for me. In this painting ‘Enchanted Tree’, I wanted to convey the happiness and energy this beautiful part of the Warwickshire countryside gives me by using an array of vivid colours and expressive brush strokes. It’s so important to have somewhere we can go that makes us feel peaceful, present, and alive. I think we all have one of those …

Mind blowing photography to inspire

I’m currently working on a new collection of colourful paintings inspired by amazing smeared sky photography Matt Malloy. If you have not seen these incredible and unusual photographs yet I highly recommend taking a look! As soon as I saw them I knew I had to use them as reference for a vibrant new selection of work. There are plenty of eye catching new paintings on my easels at the moment that I can’t wait to share with you โ˜บ Watch this space!