Congratulations to artist Emily McSevich, our latest Instagram winner! Emily, a mixed media artist who lives by the sea on the south coast of England, primarily works with alcohol ink, resin, and acrylics to create beautiful seaside-inspired art: "My artwork is hard to describe as I swing quite wildly from soft ethereal glowing seascapes to super dark and moody oceans. I suppose it really does reflect how I’m feeling in the moment."
Does where you're from or where you currently live influence your work?
I was born and raised in Cornwall (known as the Caribbean of the UK) There is so much coastline that changes dramatically with the seasons. In the winter months you’ll find wild and dark seas that crash with drama whilst in the summer months the sea turns turquoise. Perhaps that’s why my artwork also changes in mood as the seasons change?!
What's your art background?
I grew up watching my mum paint in watercolours. She often painted chickens or farm scenes. I didn’t study art, I would dabble in watercolour and acrylic. Then I found alcohol ink and resin which opened my world up and I was able to become a full time artist which still doesn’t feel like real life!
I grew up watching my mum paint in watercolours. She often painted chickens or farm scenes. I didn’t study art, I would dabble in watercolour and acrylic. Then I found alcohol ink and resin which opened my world up and I was able to become a full time artist which still doesn’t feel like real life!
Are you a full time artist or do you create around work hours?
I started painting along side my part time job and around caring for my two daughters. Often painting late into the night. Slowly as my Instagram grew I got to a place where I was able to quit my job and focus full time of being an artist and I haven’t looked back since. There have been plenty of tears and moments I wanted to give up along the way but oh my gosh I’m so glad I kept going.
I started painting along side my part time job and around caring for my two daughters. Often painting late into the night. Slowly as my Instagram grew I got to a place where I was able to quit my job and focus full time of being an artist and I haven’t looked back since. There have been plenty of tears and moments I wanted to give up along the way but oh my gosh I’m so glad I kept going.
What do you love about the mediums that you use?
Using alcohol ink forces my perfectionist brain to chill. There is no telling the inks what to do or how to behave, you have no choice but to g with the flow and I just love that because I can annoy myself with needing everything to be “just so”
Resin used to scare me but I actually turn to resin a lot now when I need to relax and go into auto-pilot. Don’t let resin intimidate you haha!
When did you discover resin?
I had to look through my photos to figure out when I first used resin, the date stamp was February 8th 2020! Wow, that’s kinda crazy to think back to that year and see what I was doing. Perhaps pre-occupying myself with learning resin is what helped get me through 2020?
How has resin impacted your artwork?
I would say resin has impacted my work in a huge way. I don’t know of any other product that can do what resin does to finish an artwork. Any time I’ve shown my work in public the resin work always gets the most attention, people want to touch it a lot haha! I guess because it looks wet and creates such realistic ocean detailing.
Can you provide a brief rundown of your process?
The most common way I use resin is to top coat my finished artwork. I’d say my most important points would be to very lightly tint your resin with a drop of purple alcohol ink. It wont show up purple in your finished artwork but it will neutralise any yellow tones in the resin (just like purple shampoo for blonde hair)
My other point would be to have a light source above your work, come down to eye level and you’ll spot any dust that needs removing, remove this with a toothpick then cover your work with a box. Try not to lift the lid for at least 12 hours to prevent dust or animal hair getting set into your work.
Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?
I think I make art because I have a million thoughts happening in my head and it helps me to sort through them. I’ll most often paint in silence without any music etc because painting gives me a chance to be alone with my thoughts and feelings.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Art definitely helps in areas of life. It really helps to process things you might be going through or feeling. When you can’t find the words to describe how you feel it often comes through in what you’re painting.
What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art?
I hope my artwork takes someone back to memory they once had. That it transports them to a moment in time. A lot of people have told me that my most recent ethereal oceans remind them of a dream they had or what they imagine heaven looks like and I just love that my artwork can momentarily take them to somewhere like that.
I hope my artwork takes someone back to memory they once had. That it transports them to a moment in time. A lot of people have told me that my most recent ethereal oceans remind them of a dream they had or what they imagine heaven looks like and I just love that my artwork can momentarily take them to somewhere like that.
How do you define success as an artist? What does success look and feel like for you?
How would I define success as an artist? I love this question! Absolutely not in how much work you sell. I think thats a misconception. If you create something that didn’t exist before and have added something new into the big wide world, I think thats so special. In a world of mass produced products, there has to be something incredible about creating something that didn’t exist the day before. If you create, you are an artist.
How would I define success as an artist? I love this question! Absolutely not in how much work you sell. I think thats a misconception. If you create something that didn’t exist before and have added something new into the big wide world, I think thats so special. In a world of mass produced products, there has to be something incredible about creating something that didn’t exist the day before. If you create, you are an artist.
Where do you sell your work?
I sell my work through my website. Almost all of my traffic to my website comes from instagram which is where I built my business from the ground up, some followers have been there since the very start which is something I love as it feels so personal.
I sell my work through my website. Almost all of my traffic to my website comes from instagram which is where I built my business from the ground up, some followers have been there since the very start which is something I love as it feels so personal.
To see more of Emily's work:
Visit her website: www.emilymcsevichart.com
Follow her on Instagram: @emily_mcsevich_art
Congratulations on your win, Emily!
Every month, to celebrate our community of artists, ArtResin will send out a 32 oz kit to two lucky people who have tagged us on Instagram, showing the work they've created with ArtResin.
Don't forget to tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next winner!
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