Inspired as a young painter by the works of the artists of the Northern Romantic Tradition, from representational art such as the early work of Mondrian to the pure abstraction of Rothko, meaning and symbolism have always played their part in Emma’s work. The empty spaces, like the silence between the notes in music, reinforce Emma’s artistic process which may start with a conscious image but through the development of colours and textures slowly evolve from her subconscious.
Acknowledging the initial idea, the essence of the painting gradually emerges, unaware of what the finished piece will look like, the work seems to develop almost by itself. The result is a a simplified composition with flat areas of colour and layers of paint that trap the light in between, creating a luminous quality, which is typical of Emma’s paintings. Time is the crucial factor in all of Emma’s paintings. The process of painting has never been a fast one, slow development through considered layering of paint, her paintings can take months to complete, sometimes years.
The artist does not dictate a meaning of the work, it is left to the viewer to find their own unique interpretation, therefore titles are descriptions rather than explanations. The paintings, often changing in different settings and various times of day, not only capture the varying light but seem to trap time, not a fast brush mark but a slow delicate application of paint, stillness.