Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Suñez.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today? Absolutely! And thank you so much for having me! I’ve always been very interested in writing, painting, and other creative pursuits. When I was a child, I would write and illustrate fictional stories that amused my teachers and family members. When I got to high school age, I took every art class that was available and spent most of my high school years in the art wing of the school, surrounded by other creatives. But when college came around, the pressure to find a “real job”, so to speak, set in, and I pursued a career in another interest of mine — education.
I was early in my elementary school teaching career, having just finished my Master’s degree in Teaching from NYU when I developed an autoimmune disease that left me physically unable to continue classroom teaching. I ended up making a big career change to study finance so that I could work from the comfort of my home. It was a tricky time for me because I was figuring out how to balance managing my illness with the rest of life’s obligations.
I was really missing the creative aspects of teaching and was looking for a distraction from my symptoms, so I made a decision to enroll in a painting class at a studio down the street from me. It turns out that taking that painting class was one of the best decisions I ever made—I totally fell in love with painting and haven’t stopped since! Painting has been an incredibly therapeutic and meditative practice for me, which has helped me to gain energy and feel better. I’ve now introduced writing into my life again too, which is really wonderful and exciting, especially as I’ve combined both passions with writing and illustrating a book!
I’m now pursuing painting and writing as a career while keeping my day job part-time. It’s been so rewarding to have creativity take up a bigger and bigger part of my life!
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?
As with any creative pursuit, there certainly have been some challenges. I’ve dealt with my fair share of self-doubt and, of course, rejection. Being an artist opens you up to criticism, and that requires a bit of a thick skin.
When I sent out my book proposal to publishers, I got rejections from nine out of the ten that I submitted to. (But that just makes the one offer letter all the more sweet!) I’ve learned that patience and persistence is the name of the game when it comes to getting my art and writing out into the world. Progress is often one step forward, two steps backward. I just keep showing up in the studio as often as I can, and slowly I’ve been showing my paintings more and more. I’m really excited to see where my creative career leads me next.
Also, with my chronic illness a continuous presence, I have days where I can’t paint or write at all. I just have to accept that not all days will be productive, as self-care has to come first. Though I’ve found that when I do take days off to just rest, read, daydream, or enjoy a walk, that’s often when the best ideas come to mind. So maybe my body forcing me to take days off once in a while is actually a good thing for my creative practice!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m primarily an oil painter, inspired by the stunning and rugged landscape of the southwest. I paint mostly desert landscapes and plants, which evoke themes of growth, resiliency, and survival. I’m striving to capture a sense of spiritual connection to the landscape in my paintings while depicting a dreamlike and idealized version of the natural world. I hope to remind the viewer of Earth’s beauty and sanctity. Over the last few years, I’ve been delighted to show my work in numerous exhibitions throughout the state of California, including at Sanchez Art Center, Brea Gallery, TAG Gallery, Palos Verdes Art Center, and the Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition.
I think what sets me apart as an artist is my desire to find ways to combine art and health. I believe strongly in the healing powers of artmaking, as I’ve experienced it first-hand, and I want to share art with others in a way that can improve their health and wellbeing. Along those lines, what I’m most proud of is a book that I wrote and illustrated called The Healing Journal: Guided Prompts & Inspiration for Life with Illness. It’s a guided journal for coping with both the physical symptoms as well as the emotional toll of chronic illness. The book is full of positive affirmations paired with journaling prompts that guide the reader in developing self-compassion, effective self-care strategies, and ways to advocate for their health. I illustrated the book with my botanical watercolor paintings, filling each page with color and calming visuals. I’m so thrilled to combine all my interests in this book and am so excited for the opportunity to share it with my fellow chronic illness warriors. It’s available wherever books are sold!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I guess it goes without saying that painting away in my studio makes me happy! My creative time makes me feel grounded and connected to the most authentic version of myself.
Outside of the studio, the things that make me happy are: my daily walks around Pasadena, spending time with my family, sipping a good iced latte, trying different LA vegan restaurants, volunteering at my local elementary school and with LA Dysautonomia Network (www.la-dn.org), journaling, dancing and laughing with my husband, and playing my crystal singing bowls.
Pricing:
- The Healing Journal: Guided Prompts & Inspiration for Life with Illness is $15.95
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emilysunez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily_the_painter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilySunez
- Other: Link to The Healing Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1615198326?tag=workmanweb-20 Etsy Link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtbyEmilySunez
Image Credits
Miriam Brummel
