Emmalyn Marie

painter • dreamer • traveler • romantic

I am a contemporary representational painter, trained in classical oil painting and drawing. I studied painting and drawing at Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD) in Laguna Beach, California and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. While earning my degree, I studied abroad at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, completing their intensive drawing program from 2013-2014. To this day I look back at that year as one of the most transformational experiences of my life. My painting process is informed by both these schools. You can trace my love of painting nature scapes and botanicals to the plein air inspired programs at LCAD, while my meticulous attention to detail was honed during my time in Florence, where students regularly spent two to four months working on one painting. I am grateful for the diversity in my classical education as I feel it shaped me into the passionate and skilled artist I am today.

My style is defined by vivid colors and realistic details, often appearing lifelike from a distance and painterly from up close. My current paintings reflect my deep connection to mother nature, which when hanging on your wall will offer you a window into the forest so you can feel the grounding effects of being in nature from the comfort of your home. In the past 3 years of living and traveling North America in my RV, I have learned how to live in harmony with mother nature and her seasons. As a nomad, finding a sense of “home” wherever we went became my mission, and I always found it in nature. Walking through the forest or along the ocean’s edge, I felt at home in my body and at home on this earth. During my hundreds of nature walks over the past 3 years, I have healed so much of my past trauma and released so many of my limiting beliefs. My connection to nature has truly allowed me to come home to myself, to find my center and feel deeply grounded and incredibly inspired. All I can hope for is that when you view my artwork, you are reminded of your connection to this earth and maybe, just maybe, you feel a deep sense of BELONGING, like I do when I am in forest or in my studio creating my art. When you come home to nature, you come home to yourself, because we are not a part of nature, we are nature. 

I find inspiration for my creative practice when I am fully present in nature, practicing the art of forest bathing.

Forest bathing is the Japanese art of engaging your 5 senses in the natural world. It goes beyond the mere act of walking or hiking, as forest bathing encourages you to be fully present in nature. Rather than rushing towards a destination or focusing on a specific goal, this practice invites you to slow down and immerse yourself in the environment. By doing so, all the senses are awakened and engaged, allowing for a deeper connection with the natural world.

The gentle rustling of leaves, the earthy scent of the forest, the vibrant colors of the foliage, the coolness of the breeze on your skin, and the melodious chirping of birds create a symphony of sensory experiences. Through forest bathing, I return home to myself - to my true nature - and this sparks my creative process. As a great musician would begin to hear the melody of their next songs blow in on the wind, I see my next paintings coming to life before my eyes when I am in that magical place.

A Romantic Heart

The year I graduated from art college was also the year I met and fell in love with Rob, the man who is now my husband. Our love story is one of the greatest treasures of my life, and over the years our love has only grown stronger and more beautiful. I am and always will be a deeply romantic soul. I believe it is the same part of my soul that yearned to become an artist at such a young age, and committed so passionately to the pursuit of my craft. The strength of my love and commitment is a theme that connects the many storylines of my life.

An Adventurous Life

In 2021 to 2022, Rob and I renovated a 36’ motorhome into a permanent home and studio to live and travel in full time. We celebrated 3 years of living in the RV in December of 2024. So far our journey has taken us from Cleveland, Ohio, the city we called home for a few wonderful years, across the midwest and into Canada. Journeying through Banff and Jasper National Parks we fell in love with the Canadian Rocky Mountains, spending time paddling on the Bow River and hiking the many iconic peaks. Seeing the larch trees turn bright gold in Autumn and the bright teal water of mountain lakes are some of our favorite memories. We headed west for the coast, to the destination of a small surf town on Vancouver Island, where we spent the winter camped on the beach in the island’s magnificent rainforest. It was during this first year of travel that I started painting my current collection of botanical paintings. When we returned to the US we traveled down the west coast, exploring Washington, Oregon and California. We spent two summers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and one winter on the beach, in Southern California before moving to Oregon, where we currently reside on a homestead with friends, still living in our RV.  (updated in Spring 2025)

A Passionate Dreamer

In addition to spending time in nature and painting in my beautiful tiny RV studio, I love to snuggle with our cats, write in my journal, and do DIY home projects. I love to sew and mend clothing and I’m starting to learn embroidery too. I also love to cook and eat delicious healthy food from my local farmers market. I am a fierce advocate for the environment and I strive to live a zero waste life. I’m also a trained vinyasa yoga teacher and creative women’s mentor, currently leading online yoga and coaching programs. Find out more about these programs here.