Emilie Maguin

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi! I'm Emilie, I'm a visual artist based in Perth, WA. At the moment I work primarily with Acrylics and Pastels. I grew up in the south east of France and went to a school with a visual arts programme in Aix-en-Provence. I had fantastic teachers and met so many lifelong friends there. I went on to complete a Master's Degree in Art History at St Andrews University in Scotland. After this I worked as a freelance illustrator and stationery designer for a few years. I'm married to an Aussie so here I am, in beautiful Western Australia. I made the jump to Fine Arts after having my son and it's been a very fulfilling adventure so far.

What is your favourite drink (tea, coffee, chai latte etc)?

I start the day with a coffee but then I love a cup of Vanilla Rooibos.

What inspired you to start painting?

I have always drawn and painted, one of my first memories is drawing a bear on a piece of paper with a piece of wood charcoal from the fire. It was my favourite subject at school and I've always loved going to museums and learning about artists. It fits my introverted temperament perfectly. It allows me to channel my feelings and get some quiet time. After having my son, I felt I really needed to reconnect with that part of myself. Young children don't care if you need calm and quiet! All my paintings are made when he is at daycare.

I also think art is an essential part of culture, and that artists and creatives contribute vital material to society. With less and less funding, a lot of us are struggling. We are lucky in Australia that there is a vibrant community of collectors who are willing to invest in living artists. May this last and grow!

What advice would you give other artists/creatives starting out?

Honestly I think just putting yourself out there at the beginning is the hardest bit. So just do it. It doesn't have to be perfect, you will grow and improve. After that I think you have to think of marketing yourself. Do a bit of social media, learn the right hashtags, join Art Directory Australia! These things all help. Learn to take a good photo of your art. These things all take time and practice. I'm still learning, and I still cringe at a lot of it. But you have to try. Find your voice, and then maybe look at the interior decor trends, what's happening in the art scene, and see how you can fit into that and add your own twist. And have fun with it!

You can read more about Emilie Maguin here.