Conversations with Emily Thomas MaHarry

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
Hi, I’m Emily.  I’m an artist based in Ojai, California. They say everyone has a story. I wouldn’t say my story is necessarily dramatic or unique by any means, but it does reflect my desire to communicate how I interpret things and how determined I am to accomplish what I have in mind. For a highly sensitive and empathic person, it is way easier for me to do that visually rather than verbally. It’s how I process everything. I am a painter, but I wasn’t always. I received a degree in fine art, focusing in printmaking, and slowly transitioned to painting.

When I moved to California, I moved from Portland Maine, where I grew up. I didn’t know anyone here and didn’t have a job. I decided to move to a little town that I had visited once before and thought that would be manageable. And not totally overwhelming. I shipped some stuff out and bought a one-way ticket.

I loved exploring and I loved California, but as amazing as it was, the stress of not finding a job as my finances were dwindling sent me into survival mode. Art had to be put on hold while I stabilized. Eventually finding a job, I also became enamored with rock climbing, backpacking, trail running and other alpine pursuits.

During Covid, I decided to start painting again, and I was very aware of how important it was to put my ego aside and accept the fact that I paint differently now. That really helped me, and I felt so much relief that I was able to express myself in such a cathartic way.

Now, I’m working as a full-time artist, spending time in the mountains and teaching art to kids at an incredible art center.

I’m building and putting everything into my paintings.

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?
In the big picture, my life has been good, and I am fortunate to be living a healthy, active life full of love and support. However, as far as my art career goes, it has not been the easiest path. I’ve experienced a lot of rejection. That’s how it tends to go until you find your audience, and that is starting to happen. I work very hard for every opportunity and am so grateful when something can come together. I work to support myself, so often times, surviving took precedence over creating. When I moved to California, I didn’t know anyone at all. I was completely alone… that was very hard and scary at times, but I was very determined to make it work.

And I did, and I love my lifestyle here.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is about how I interpret my surroundings and emotions through abstract landscapes. I am a painter, but I wasn’t always. As I started painting more, I found it to be fun, and I liked that I could start and stop easier than when I was printmaking.

People are recognizing my style of landscapes as having an ethereal quality with calming colors and layers. Simplifying complex ideas into minimal compositions.

My process is different in that I spend a lot of time in the areas I paint before I paint them, observing. Feeling it out.

Sometimes I don’t intentionally paint a specific area, but it presents itself from my subconscious. I absorb the colors and feel of a place, and that really comes out in my work. As humans, we have so many layers of emotions, feelings, cells, DNA that make up our being, and I really like that parallel

My landscapes are representative of that and how we have so much underneath the surface.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Oh, Ed Winters is a hero of mine for his insightful and compassionate way of speaking about plant-based eating and living- which is a very important part of my life.  I love Rick Ruben’s book The Creative Act, A Way Of Being. It’s a very helpful reminder for me and my process when I am stuck with imposter syndrome or doubting myself. Pema Chodron is also a very wonderful speaker/writer and Buddhist nun who I always have in my stack of books.