Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Kell.
Emily, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been passionate about making art since early childhood, and after graduating from SCAD-Savannah with a degree in painting, that transitioned into a full-time creative flow in 2012. Over the years, I’ve gone through many explorations of various mediums but have settled into painting as my greatest love. The past seven years of my life have been mainly dedicated to creating works that honor of the divine feminine, and are intended to serve as talismans of empowerment to the viewers with whom they resonate. During this time, my work has come into focus around these themes of empowerment, the sacred, the magic of the feminine, unseen realms, emotional depths, and sacred moments.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In no way has this been a smooth road. The rough spots have leaned me so much richness to channel into my artwork though, so, although I am always hoping for periods of inner peace, I am grateful for the turmoil that has sharpened my creative vision into something deeper than I could have hoped for without a bit of shadow swirled into the mix. When I first found my calling about what I wanted to convey in paint, it came to me through a series of challenges that are all too common for women. Being a super-sensitive woman, I feel tuned into magic and I also sometimes struggle to translate myself in this world, and I’ve often dealt with chronic illnesses of various sorts that I find, on a spirit-level, to deeply and accurately reflect the pain and struggle pulsing through the repressed bits of magic in the world at large, and how that energy is being held in the container of our present culture.
Understanding the collective nature of many of my personal struggles inspired me to make paintings that would be like medicine for other weird witches (and weirdos of all walks), It inspired me to speak to, and to honor, the magic and sensitivity that many of us hold. I started making art as ceremony, and painting my friends, and aiming to represent a diverse range of beauties, body types, archetypal energies, and expressions of personal truth in my paintings. This ceremony has been growing and expanding since its inception, and, at its core, is a love so deep for womxn, for witches and weirdos, for highly sensitive people, and an intention to transmute pain into magik, to reclaim the sovereign beauty of our body’s after they have endured trauma, and to honor the medicine of emotion.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I love my job!
I work full time as an artist, which mainly consists of painting murals and paintings, and doing various creative projects on the side. My main focus in art-making is mystical archetypal portraiture and the weaving of light and shadow. I think my main specialty in painting is creating pieces that speak to the emotional core and to the bits of us that are still tethered to magik. Of my body of work, I am most proud of the large scale murals I have completed, and of the positive emotional impact, some of my work has seemed to have on some of my collectors. I am continuously excited to be walking this path, and when my intentions play out through my artwork and into the real world, it brings me such big joy. In addition to painting, I make clothing and all kinds of magical goodies which I sell on the side.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can think of a dozen career-defining moments that seemed to fall into place by sheer luck! Of course, I’ve had plenty of setbacks, but the lucky-magic moments shine out from under them and make me feel really good about the path that I’m on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emilykell.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilythefunkypriestess
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/emilykellart
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