Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilia Greenstein.
Hi Emilia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My art journey began in 2020, a couple weeks after the world shut down and I had given birth to my second daughter. Desperate for connection with my mom, who I didn’t get to see for months, I bought us both water color sets and we made a date to paint over zoom! My mom couldn’t figure out how to use zoom but I decided to paint anyway and fell in love instantly over some bright orange California poppies. I’ve been panting daily ever since.
Prior to that point I had a career in professional soccer, then as a clinical psychologist in Germany, and as a school psychologist here in California. All my years of studies influenced the way I write and the topics I choose for my children’s stories I hope someday to publish. My tenure as a soccer player has been the cornerstone of my commitment to being a full time artist.
I have always dreamt of being a children’s book author and now I dream of illustrating my own stories too.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have always made time for movement and my art since I decided to pursue my dream. Finding time has never been easy, especially at the beginning with two babies in 13 months, but art has never been the struggle, it has always felt like the cure. Finding time and practicing has been equal parts therapeutic and spiritual.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is a compilation of seasons, with each season bringing new inspirations depending on our travels, visits to our local beaches, or just the flowers that are in bloom. Some seasons bring forth my synesthesia more than others and my use of color reflects my feelings and my interpretation of life around me. My daughters would claim I specialize in mermaids and that may be the truth, but I like to think I dabble in anything my imagination calls forth whether mermaid or landscape, angel or bouquet. I am most proud that I finally made the decision to follow my dream, learned so much from all my experiences and weave them into everything I paint or write!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Getting to be alive, for my loved ones to enjoy their health and be an active part in my children’s lives. To be successful in my career as an artist would be to finally release the children’s books I have written and be lucky enough to illustrate them too!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emiliamegan.com
- Instagram: @Emiliamegan
