Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Peters
Hi Emma, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My work is a celebration of art, food, and nature—three passions that bring me joy and inspire me to share it with others. My love of food stems from my mom, Sydney, who introduced me to farmer’s markets and international grocery stores, even making friends with our local produce guy, Raymond, who would sneak me apple slices. I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember, from growing up in San Francisco to studying design & drawing in college. After graduating, I leapt into a brand marketing job but felt the pull to create again.
In 2019, I moved into my first solo apartment and, after a year of not making art, bought a used iPad Pro from Facebook Marketplace with the goal of drawing again. My first piece was an “ugly delicious” pear from my fridge—an ordinary yet evocative subject. This exploration of everyday beauty reignited my creativity. When COVID hit, I started painting fruits and vegetables that held special meaning, like the jasmine in my parents’ front yard and lychees from 99 Ranch Market. Encouraged by friends, I turned this passion into a small business—Fruit Stand.
With my background in web design, copywriting, and branding, I built my website and shop, producing everything from photoshoots to Instagram stories. Now, I focus on collaborating with artists, small businesses and non-profits to expand my work. Last year, I created a custom candle with my perfumer friend, RJ Ines. This past summer, my work was sold at The Orange County Museum of Art gift shop as part of a collaboration with MAUM Market. Ultimately, I dream of opening my own grocery store concept that blends art, food and community, sharing the beauty and stories found in nature.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wish! Over the past few years, I’ve struggled with self-doubt and questioned my abilities as both an artist and a budding entrepreneur. I’ve wondered if my mission of celebrating our connection with nature resonates enough, especially compared to more pointed activism. My goal is to strike a balance between pure aesthetic beauty and the often rigid layers of meaning placed on fine art.
After reflecting, I see the potential to envelope these struggles into the stories I share through my work. There’s a reason why so many fruits and plants hold deep symbolism, like the lovingly cut fruits my second generation friends receive from their parents, or the good luck charm of the Money Tree in Chinese culture. These stories encourage us to live deeply and meaningfully, a connection to our past, present and future.
Balancing this with my full-time job (I’m a project manager at a fashion company) can also make it tough to scale Fruit Stand, but when I step back, I’m happy with my progress. It’s a slow build toward greater creative fulfillment and opportunities.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Fruit Stand, my fine art print shop, I digitally draw and paint a variety of fruits, vegetables and plants—avocados, heirloom tomatoes, Korean Chamoe melons, dragon fruit and birds of paradise, to name a few. My inspiration comes from the gems found at farmer’s markets and the culturally significant produce I’ve discovered through conversations and research.
My work stands out for its simplicity and vibrancy, capturing joyful details from nature with a unique perspective. Whether abstracting a fig’s interior or giving it a regal presence, I aim to celebrate the beauty that already exists. I’m also inspired by classical and modern art, like Danish still life paintings, Cezanne’s fruit plates and Lucien Freud’s portraits of everyday life, but with a contemporary twist. I’m obsessed with painting the minute details that are easily consumed (pun intended) or overlooked.
What am I most proud of? Once a month, I table at the Hollywood Farmers Market and the connections I make there fuel the next round of prints. I’m energized and encouraged as an artist whenever I get to bond over a juicy white peach or someone asks about my process.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my fondest memories is strawberry picking with my family in Columbia, Missouri when I was about ten or twelve. We drove an hour to a pick-your-own fruit farm. Strawberries were in season, and with a blue bucket and a straw hat, I skipped down the rows, plucking berries with a city girl’s revelry.
On the way home, we all craved smoothies, but alas, we didn’t have a blender. So, we went to Home Depot and my dad let me pick out a cheap one. I felt rich! An hour later, we made the ultimate strawberry smoothie, ice cold like a milkshake. As someone usually reserved with extended family, I remember perking up the whole day, feeling like my giddy self again.
Pricing:
- Complimentary shipping on US orders $50+
- Buy 4 Prints, Get 1 Free
- Affordable Fine Art Prints
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fruitstand.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitstand.art/ and https://www.instagram.com/emmapeeta/
- Other: https://emmarosepeters.com/
Image Credits
N/A. All taken by me except for the childhood photo!
