Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Lyon.
Hi Emma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been doing art ever since I was a little girl. I would carry a notebook and pen with me wherever we went as a family, doodling during some downtime. My dad always encouraged me to draw; he supported my art if I wanted it as a career, too.
During my senior year of high school, I went to California with the art and English teachers, fellow art students, and even kids from other schools, to do a trip all around art. I won’t go into the details, but that trip transformed me into the artist I am today. The poetry bonfire on the beach, the sketching time in museums, sharing poetry on the bus in the middle of nowhere; they formed me into a better artist.
After I graduated, I realized if I wanted a career with art, I would have to figure out a way to bring in profit. I met the love of my life and now partner, Isaac, in high school, and I got to meet his wonderful parents who are artists. I was clueless, and they graciously showed me the ropes. They were supportive, helpful, and always gave me tips on how to be a better artist and person; and they continue to do that now!
Now I continue doing art as a career! I sell prints, original paintings, screen-printed products, backpacks made from stuffed animals, and more!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been bumps in the road. In high school, my mental health took a dive; I can’t describe how difficult those years were. I didn’t feel confident in telling anyone how I was doing. So I turned to music, art, and poetry to try to get a handle on it. My high school provided a record-listening club, a poetry club, and an art club. All three of those extracurriculars were safe spaces for me, and the teachers were/are my role models.
I also took as many art classes as possible from art teachers when I had extra credits to fill. Their classes, along with my other art and English teachers, were formative; they helped me get out of my own head and make what made me happy. They showed me how to bind books, make zines, collage, paint, feel, write raw poetry, and be a better person. They illustrated that art doesn’t always have to be beautiful and perfect, and it’s a great way to vent.
I used art to get through really hard moments growing up, and I had kind, selfless people helping me grow. When I didn’t have the words to express, I didn’t have to try to find any. Sometimes I had to show scary imagery to show that I was feeling a little terrified of trying new meds or going to therapy.
Nowadays, my health isn’t perfect, but it’s doing a lot better.
I’m so thankful for visual, uplifting, funny, creative, and messed-up things that can help us through our journey, and I’m thankful that my passion for art has been a creative, healthy outlet!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do an assortment of mediums of art. I collage and paint watercolors most often. I also sew, make zines, sew sketchbooks, sculpt, embroider, screenprint, make sustainable watercolor paint, and any other form of art that might interest me.
I think my cute but creepy art is what I’m best known for. I like to mix religious art with creepy undertones, kitsch art with morbidity, and colorful collages with scary stories. Halloween is my favorite holiday and my mindset all year long, and I like to add vibrant colors and cuteness where it feels right. I think it’s a fun aspect that can set me apart from other artists. Even if cute and creepy itself isn’t a new concept, I’ve added my own style to make it different.
I’m proud of myself for finding a style that’s consistent and that I’m happy with. Another funny thing I’m proud of is a video of something I posted on TikTok. I bought a mother and baby goose stuffed animal and turned it into a purse. It sounds morbid, but it’s cute. It received 788,400 views; that’s a lot of free exposure of my art! It was a serendipitous surprise.
The company VSCO (Visual Supply Company) wrote an article about my art. I really love how they run their app and the way they cultivate their website with all kinds of creative people, so I felt truly honored they wanted to highlight me!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
One of my bigger risks was selling my art at my favorite store. There was a little store in downtown Provo in Utah, called “Unhinged.” It had vintage clothes, leather goods, stickers, handmade jewelry and notebooks, and local art from local artists. I went to Unhinged as much as I could; the feeling the employees cultivated there was magic. I decided I wanted to work there. This was a big risk for me. It would be my first job, so I felt a lot of pressure to do extra well. I was hired! I was so excited.
Anyone can try to sell art there, but it’s a little easier when one can ask their boss if they can sell art. I was just barely getting my art out there, so the thought of it being on display for anyone to see was a new feeling! I sold stickers, saint candles with celebrities photoshopped on them, and a few prints. It turns out people liked my stuff, and it really gave me the confidence to keep reaching out and giving my all as an artist, one little exposure at a time.
Contact Info:
- Email: emmalyonart@gmail.com
- Website: emmalyonart.com
- Instagram: @emmalyonart
- Other: https://vsco.co/vsco/journal/expressing-intrigue?link_name=VSCO&af_siteid=588013838&af_dp=vsco%3A%2F%2F&af_referrer_uid=1603639235000-9764435&c=copy-link&pid=app-journal-share&deep_link_value=vsco://user/113950/journal/5cdc74478d7b2c34f26c119c&af_referrer_customer_id=19930460
