Emmapada Studio ~ Art & Illustration of Emma Bramma Smith
My Background
My Inspiration
My Background
Born in England, of a long line of artists and craftsmen, dressmakers and milliners, I showed and early gift for the arts and was blessed with proud, encouraging parents.
After a short stint in illustration and design at Sheridan College, I found myself working as an illustrator, set and costume designer, and as a gallery artist.
Born in England, of a long line of artists and craftsmen, dressmakers and milliners, I showed and early gift for the arts and was blessed with proud, encouraging parents.
After a short stint in illustration and design at Sheridan College, I found myself working as an illustrator, set and costume designer, and as a gallery artist. I have not only illustrated books, board games, and media for music, but have also worked as vocal talent for audio books and children's music.
My style has continued to be rather metamorphic, moving from detailed Celtic and Eastern illustrative works, to vast, abstract canvases.
Breaks from all formal presentation of art to pursue Yoga and ayurvedic studies have greatly contributed to my life and work, including the honors of illustrating for Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Mandala Magazine, and having my art presented to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Pausing, again to raise a family has been an epic joy, and has provided powerful inspiration and motivation. My greatest interest is in creating a body of work that connects viewers with Spirit, the natural world, with themselves, and with each other.
My Medium
My Inspiration
My Background
My father coined my work "Spiritual Surrealism" years ago, and I think that most accurately describes my process. I believe most art is largely Channeled Artwork, a conversation between worlds or dimensions. Each piece evolves in its' own way. My media choices reflect the energy working through the image at the time. Several styles of
My father coined my work "Spiritual Surrealism" years ago, and I think that most accurately describes my process. I believe most art is largely Channeled Artwork, a conversation between worlds or dimensions. Each piece evolves in its' own way. My media choices reflect the energy working through the image at the time. Several styles of work evolve out of my meditative and artistic process. They often require very different media to manifest the final work. My personal favorites are watercolour and India ink. I am detail-oriented as a rule and require elaborate narrative to understand what the picture wants to translate. I definitely feel that I am illustrating the dreams, visions, and journeys I am shown. Acrylic, pastel, chalk, and often metal and wood combine to communicate through larger, more abstracted and stylized, rather ambient pieces. Music and poetry or detailed writings are a part of my process. I often research the words, images, and sounds that I experience while working. Typically they are deeply intertwined. The artistic process is meditative and I consider meditation and yoga vital tools . "I" is a part of describing my experience but ultimately "we" or "us" have more to do with it. The ultimate result is a piece that speaks for and to many, not just myself. Equally, the art is transformed and given a new meaning with each audience and what they bring to it.
It is comforting to meet others who feel similarly that "we" are as much a part of the media we work with, and we feel driven to make art that speaks to more than merely our own egos.
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
Beauty is as beauty does... The most beautiful things come from the most beautiful motivations and actions. I believe Love, Peace, and Compassion are the greatest truths we can aspire to. Much of my inspiration begins with these truths and morning practice. My recurring dreams as a child were deeply linked to Mahayana tradition. Thi
Beauty is as beauty does... The most beautiful things come from the most beautiful motivations and actions. I believe Love, Peace, and Compassion are the greatest truths we can aspire to. Much of my inspiration begins with these truths and morning practice. My recurring dreams as a child were deeply linked to Mahayana tradition. This, I learned when I accidentally became a Buddhist and finally understood that my dreams had been the ritual of initiation. The images I had drawn over and over as a child, the strange princesses, the flying lions were all memories of a faith I was born to find again.
My life and its path have flowed out of my Celtic roots, my love of the natural world and deep desire for connection with the very essence of it, and an undeniable emotional/soul connection with Eastern traditions, faith, and philosophy. I have learned the hard way at times, that I have no place in the world without these essential sparks at my core.
I understand my place in the world is to express their guidance with the art that flows through me, with the gift of raising my children, and in making connection with fellow souls and beings.
I am humbled and inspired by the gurus and guides who have brought me to this place in my life..
I dedicate my days to The Buddhas, the gurus, my lovely children, my partner, to my wonderful mother and father, all my patient family friends, and to the benefit of all beings.
Gaol
Namaste
Sat Nam
Metta