Meet Watercolour Artist Emma Pilgrim
I love the process of creating a painting, watching it come to life as I paint. When I paint birds and animals, I usually start with the eyes because they are so filled with life and personality and build the rest of the painting around them.
Wildlife and wild places are my favourite subjects to paint. The wildlife and scenery around us in Tasmania is stunning and unique and I love attempting to capture elements of it in my work. Although I usually work from photo references, I love painting places that I have explored and wildlife that I have had special encounters with.
Finding Constant Joy in Bringing Biology and Art Together
I have always loved art, but I have only been pursuing art seriously for the past couple of years. I have had health problems that have meant that I have been spending a lot of time at home and haven’t been able to be as active as I like to be, but painting has given me something fulfilling to focus on.
I am a biologist and worked mostly in threatened species conservation.
My favourite thing is watching how birds and animals behave and interact with the environment around them.
I now get some of the same joy from painting them, particularly incorporating some aspects of their interactions with the environment into my work.
Finding the Right Art Medium for a Creative Life
I usually work on my living room coffee table in the evenings after putting my daughter to bed.
One of the best things about watercolour is that it doesn’t take up much space and dries very quickly so it can be packed away.
Working in Watercolour
I work in watercolours. I have always admired watercolour artwork, so it was the first medium I pursued and I haven’t regretted it.
I find it to be a very versatile medium and I love the different textures I can achieve across a painting with just varying the wetness of my paint.
The Deep Satisfaction of Being Part of Exhibitions
I love being part of exhibitions and being surrounded by so many other artists and their work. It’s very gratifying to see my artwork hanging alongside other artists.
Pet Portaiture of Beloved Family Members
I have evolved into doing commissioned pet portraits. Very few people have disposable income for artwork, so to make sales I think you really have to offer people something that they can’t buy mass produced.
My pet portrait career is still very much in its infancy, but I have really enjoyed producing meaningful and loved artwork for people.
Sources of Artistic Inspiration
I am often inspired by seeing other people’s amazing artwork, but I am also often inspired by seeing something that I would love to paint.
When I am out in nature, I often find myself looking at a flower or a bird and thinking about how I would painting it and what would make a good composition.
Finding the Details In Photographic References
I work mostly from photographs, very rarely working on location. My art style is usually very detailed and working from photographs allows me be much more precise.
Join our growing members community today to share your Artist Profile story.
The Best Art Advice
I was given a very wise piece of advice by another artist – just keep painting!
The more you paint, the better you get.
I can definitely see the improvement in my own work over time as I have been focusing on trying to spend time painting at least every few days.
About the Artist
Emma Pilgrim is a watercolour artist based in Burnie, Tasmania.
Emma has a love for wildlife and wild places and her work focuses on capturing the beauty around her.
Follow Emma on Facebook and shop her beautiful artwork across a range of delightful products on Redbubble.
Read Another Artist Profile…
Jacquelyn Mansell Paints Tasmania’s Spirit With Heart and Purpose
Meet Tasmanian Artist Jacquelyn Mansell The greatest joy in my art comes from the profound connection between myself, the subject, and the viewer. Immersing myself in the landscapes and wildlife of Lutruwita (Tasmania) allows me to translate the island's raw beauty...
Bold Colours and Mark-Making with Julie McDonald
An Art Practice Centred on Sharing Connections My art practice is more than just a profession; it’s my way of sharing stories and connecting with the world around me. I thrive on experimenting with bold colours and mark-making, constantly challenging myself to step...
An Abiding Love for Colour and Making with Noelene Hammond
Mixing Colour, Brightness & Abundance My love of colour started when I began selling in art galleries. Black, white and grey do not work. I try to create a picture in my head. My boxes of coloured wool I could not be without, as they give me great joy. My...
Read What Our Members Say About Belonging
Join the growing, supportive artists community today and have your Artist story told here.
Belinda is doing a great job creating a professional looking artist hub online. Check out the profile I posted recently to see how well she does them. To all my artist friends let’s help make this THE go to place to discover local artists.
You won’t regret joining Art Trails Tasmania . It’s a welcoming community for creatives at any career stage.Becoming an Art Trails Tasmania member wasn’t a hard decision for me to make as it’s such a wealth of knowledge and support.Being member provides a quality way to showcase your creative endeavours and it’s quickly growing in reach.
We operate a home based picture framing business and recently joined Art Trails Tasmania as a means to giving us exposure to the wider artist community. We have almost immediately seen increase in activity thru our online sites, which I am certain will lead to more opportunities to grow our business.
Artist Profile Stories
I want there to be more arts and crafts in our world, in our communities and in our own lives. Hopefully you’ve found this blog post inspiring and interesting.
So I’m creating, with your help, Art Trails Tasmania, allowing all of us who feel this love to create more of it.
And the Art Trails Tasmania blog is a key part of making this happen, telling the stories of members. It’s about what they have happening with workshops and classes, exhibitions, open studio trails, where to find their outlets, markets, fairs and festivals so you can shop their creations as well as their art and craft retreats.
Also being shared are the supporters of our artists, the galleries, shops, cafes, art societies and groups, places to stay and artist in residencies.
