Meet Emmi Coburn

 Growing up in the quiet, familiar surroundings of St. Thomas, Ontario, my earliest artistic inclinations took root amidst the everyday. I found beauty in the mundane, sketching what I saw around me, though I didn't yet understand the path this simple act would lead me down. This initial spark was truly ignited when I enrolled in the Fine Art program at Fanshawe College. Over three years, I immersed myself in foundational techniques, experimenting with various mediums, but it was the rich, tactile quality of oil paint that truly captured my imagination. Fanshawe provided a crucial stepping stone, allowing me to build a strong technical base and begin to articulate my artistic voice. 

 My desire to delve deeper into the complexities of art led me eastward, to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). Here, I pursued a Major in Fine Art, an experience that profoundly shaped my perspective. NSCAD pushed me to challenge my assumptions, to explore conceptual frameworks, and to refine my unique approach to painting. It was a period of intense growth, where I learned not just to paint what I saw, but to infuse it with emotion, narrative, and a distinctive personal style. 

Today, my oil paintings are a vibrant celebration of life, characterized by their unapologetic use of colour and a prevailing sense of joy. I believe art should uplift and connect, and I strive to make each canvas a testament to the beauty I find in the world. My primary subjects often revolve around the familiar comforts of household items and the people who inhabit our daily lives. There's a profound beauty in the domestic, in the simple moments and objects that form the backdrop of our existence.

I'm fascinated by how light interacts with form, how a vibrant hue can evoke a feeling, and how a seemingly ordinary object can become extraordinary when viewed through an artistic lens. My process is intuitive and deeply personal, often beginning with an everyday observation that sparks an idea, which then evolves into a dynamic interplay of brushstrokes and chromatic harmony on the canvas.

Ultimately, my hope is that when you encounter my work, you're enveloped in the same sense of warmth, optimism, and wonder that I experience during its creation. I invite you to see the world through my eyes.