Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Rudnick.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My passion for artmaking began purely through observation- I had recently moved from my hometown of Boston to Miami for college and became fascinated with the extreme environmental differences between the Northeast and tropical South Florida. From there, I immersed myself in learning about and making botanical drawings and paintings, and once I took a color theory class at school, something clicked in my brain and I knew that nothing else mattered to me as much as creating art.
The thick of the story that got me to where I am now was my struggle with addiction and alcoholism. I got to a very low place and dealt with near-death experiences quite a few times. My passion for and ability to create art completely ceased and because of that, along with the daily fight to keep going, I really lost my sense of self and sense of freedom. Things spiraled downhill faster and faster for about four years until I finally found the willingness to accept help. My family and friends were extremely supportive, and while I was recovering in treatment, I created a portfolio to apply to art programs as a transfer. I was accepted into the art program at USC and re-approaching art from a sober mindset allowed me to push myself further than I even knew was possible. I really made the most of my education there and practiced as many mediums as I could (painting, ceramics and printmaking). My love for painting grew tenfold and since having graduated, I haven’t stopped painting or exploring new concepts and ideas. The progression of my art is directly correlated to the progression of my sobriety and recovery and I don’t ever take that for granted.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel that trying to become a working artist is very rarely a smooth road for anyone. I was very lucky to find an artist assistant job over the last year, but before that I was working both in retail and as a salon receptionist. I’ll do anything I need to in order to stay consistent in my painting practice, but it’s definitely easy to get discouraged every time I remember how unforgiving the ratio is of successful to unsuccessful artists. I can certainly get stuck in the cycle of comparing myself to other painters my age who have found success in a conventional way within the fine art world, which only makes reaching my goals seem even more daunting. However, there’s nothing I care to do more than to keep making art, and as long as I can have the time and space to do that, I know I’ll be successful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Everything I do is rooted in painting, but the mediums I use vary. I work with oil paint almost every day, but over the past few years I’ve done a lot of experimenting with sewing/embroidery and textile art. I think there’s something to be said about using domestic materials in the context of painting and contemporary art. I’m working on striking a balance between painting and textile art that still gets my ideas across to the audience but in a unique and unexpected way. I’m most proud of this series of text reliefs I’ve developed- I’ve never seen the technique I’m using before, so I think I’m onto something pretty original, which is really rewarding. While I feel like I’m constantly kicking myself for not having found my “signature” identifiable style as an artist, I think that in itself is what sets me apart from others. Whether conscious or not, I’m refusing to settle into one medium or theme, which keeps me open to new concepts and ideas I might have never noticed if I had gotten comfortable in one style that audiences had responded well to.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I mean, the NFT trend is undeniable. I have my own opinions about it that aren’t necessarily productive to share, but ultimately I believe the realm of physical, tangible art is going to grow more separate from the digital art sphere. There are just too many artists creating impactful, physical work that cannot and will not translate in the same way online on the blockchain as it will in person in a gallery, show or museum context. There are going to be corrupt pockets of any creative industry, it’s sadly unavoidable, but there are so many artists creating deliberately and lovingly. There’s always going to be a market for ingenuity in the art world.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.emilyrudnick.com
- Instagram: @nickrudem
