Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Musgrove.
Emily, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
My story as an artist probably began when I was literally five years old and I’d copy pictures of the animals out of a national geographic book. No joke, I still look back on those drawings and think Dang! I was always good!
I was always intrigued by trying to make things look as close to a photograph as possible. In high school I’d copy celebrity faces with striking accuracy, but I wouldn’t consider that a high form of art.
Things really picked up when our saving-grace of a neighbor, a professor at CSUSM, began giving me private lessons in oil paint. She saw my potential and pushed me to actually pick up the paint and make what I was capable of. I’m still shocked at some of the things we painted together! Giant portraits in bright colors-they are so cool.
Vicki is the one who suggested I major in Art when I needed to apply for college, and helped me create a portfolio (which actually got compliments from my Cal Poly professors!)
Fast forward through three years of college art classes and I finally confess myself to be an ‘Artist’ when people look over my shoulder and see what I’m drawing on a cup during church, or what I’ve sketched on the back of a receipt at dinner.
Honestly though, the most prevalent part of my “story” is how naturally it all comes. I never had to work through a funk of being bad at drawing, or painstakingly learn how to mix pretty colors. There wasn’t an intentional 10,000 hours put in. When I paint, it is truly a God-gifted talent and I feel an obligation to see what these hands can & will make! Truly a fun journey to be on.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I make bright and colorful paintings in oil on canvas! Art is more about the process for me, the final product is super satisfying, but the mixing of paint and putting it down is what I love. That is the more serious side of it anyways, I also draw incessantly on my cups when the latte is long gone, and watercolor with the set I keep in my purse.
The message behind my paintings varies. Sometimes it stems from a story I’m trying to tell, or a feeling to convey. But I like the idea that regardless of what is behind the paint, the surface is joyful and can draw you in with its quirkiness.
What you should know about my art is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is fun and simple and easy on the eyes, just like I aspire to be!
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
I’d say create create create. An object in motion stays in motion and nothing is more true for creativity. You have to foster it, water it, feed it, whatever metaphor clicks in your brain, but if you leave creativity dormant it will stay that way. There is an infinite amount of things your two hands and creative brain can come up with, but the world will ONLY ever see them, if you put those two hands to work and give the creative brain a pep talk every single day. And if you walk away, just come back! I’m never disappointed when I just pick up the pen and doodle on a cup. Ten days later I’ll find that the one simple cup led to 7 others and 3 oil paintings and a blog post and…Yeah. It takes inertia.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Right now my work isn’t showing anywhere. You can follow along on @darlingartist, @emilymusg and my blog darlingartist.com!
Contact Info:
- Website: darlingartist.com
- Email: musgrove.emily@gmail.com
- Instagram: @darlingartist
- Other: @emilymusg
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