Emma Richardson has established herself as one of the most innovative abstract artists of her generation. Her vibrant, emotionally charged canvases have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, from London to Tokyo. We had the privilege of sitting down with Emma in her sunlit studio to discuss her artistic journey, creative process, and the challenges she's overcome along the way.
The Journey to Becoming an Artist
Daily Corner: Thank you for welcoming us into your studio, Emma. Let's start at the beginning—when did you first know you wanted to be an artist?
Emma Richardson: I don't think there was ever a definitive moment where I decided, "I'm going to be an artist." It was more like a gradual recognition that creating art was essential to my wellbeing. I've been drawing since I could hold a crayon, but I actually studied chemistry in university. I kept painting throughout my studies, and eventually, the art took over. I was spending more time in the studio than the lab, and that's when I realized I needed to commit to it fully.
Daily Corner: That's interesting that you came from a scientific background. Do you feel that influences your work?
Emma Richardson: Absolutely. I'm fascinated by the chemistry of paint—how pigments interact, how different mediums affect viscosity and drying time. I approach my palette almost like a laboratory experiment sometimes. There's also a precision to scientific thinking that I apply to composition, even in my most seemingly chaotic pieces. There's always an underlying structure.
Finding an Artistic Voice
Daily Corner: Your work is known for its distinctive use of color and texture. How did you develop your particular style?
Emma Richardson: It was a process of elimination, really. I spent years trying different approaches—realistic portraiture, landscape, still life—but none of them felt entirely authentic to me. Abstract expression gave me the freedom to communicate emotions and energy directly.
The color palette evolved from my fascination with transitions and thresholds—dawn and dusk, the meeting of land and sea. Those in-between spaces have always felt charged with potential to me. As for texture, I've always been tactile. I need to feel the physicality of the paint. Sometimes I'll apply it with brushes, sometimes palette knives, sometimes my hands directly on the canvas.
Daily Corner: Were there particular artists who influenced your development?
Emma Richardson: Helen Frankenthaler was a huge influence—her soak-stain technique and fearless use of color. Joan Mitchell's energetic brushwork. Mark Rothko's emotional depth. But I also draw inspiration from Japanese ceramics, Scandinavian textile design, and natural forms like geological strata and aerial landscapes. I think it's important to look beyond other painters for inspiration.
The Creative Process
Daily Corner: Could you walk us through your creative process? How does a painting typically come into being?
Emma Richardson: It varies, but most often I begin with color. I'll have a feeling or mood I want to express, and certain colors embody that for me. I usually start with loose, gestural marks to establish a rhythm on the canvas. From there, it becomes a conversation between what's emerging and what I intended. I rarely stick to a rigid plan.
I work in layers, allowing each to dry partially or completely depending on the effect I want. Sometimes I'll deliberately disrupt what's happening—scraping back, washing over areas, or introducing an unexpected element. Those disruptions often lead to the most interesting discoveries.
Music is essential to my process. The studio playlist changes depending on what I'm working on—ambient electronic music for meditative pieces, jazz for more improvisational work, classical for complex compositions.
Daily Corner: How do you know when a painting is finished?
Emma Richardson: [Laughs] That's the eternal question, isn't it? Sometimes I just feel it—there's a rightness to the composition, a balance that feels complete. Other times, I'll set a piece aside for weeks or months and come back to it with fresh eyes.
I've learned to recognize when I'm fussing rather than improving. If I'm making smaller and smaller adjustments, or if I'm hesitating too much before each mark, that's usually a sign that I should stop. Some paintings resolve quickly; others take years of returning and reworking.
Challenges and Growth
Daily Corner: What has been the most significant challenge in your artistic career?
Emma Richardson: Self-doubt is the persistent demon. There are periods where I question everything—my technique, my vision, whether I have anything meaningful to contribute. The art market can be brutal and fickle, and it's easy to get caught up in external validation.
I've also struggled with balancing creative exploration with the practical realities of making a living. Early in my career, I noticed I was unconsciously steering toward work that had sold well previously, which is creatively deadening. I had to establish firm boundaries around experimentation and risk-taking.
Daily Corner: How have you overcome these challenges?
Emma Richardson: I've developed rituals that reconnect me with the joy of creation—sketching without judgment, experimenting with new materials with no expectation of a finished piece, visiting museums to be in conversation with art history.
I also have a small circle of trusted peers who give honest feedback. Not praise, not validation, but genuine engagement with the work. That's invaluable.
And I've learned that creative blocks often signal that something needs to change—my environment, my routine, or my approach. Sometimes stepping away from the canvas and working in a completely different medium, like ceramics or collage, can unlock new possibilities.
Current Work and Future Directions
Daily Corner: Can you tell us about your current body of work?
Emma Richardson: I'm exploring the concept of memory—how it distorts, fragments, and reassembles over time. The new pieces incorporate elements of collage and transfer techniques alongside painting. I'm particularly interested in the edges where different materials and techniques meet.
There's also a series inspired by urban infrastructure—subway maps, circuit boards, aerial views of cities. I'm fascinated by these human-made networks and how they mirror natural systems like river deltas or neural pathways.
Daily Corner: What direction do you see your work taking in the future?
Emma Richardson: I'm increasingly drawn to installation and environmental work—creating immersive experiences rather than discrete objects. I'd love to collaborate with architects or urban planners on public art projects.
I'm also exploring digital tools, not as a replacement for painting but as another layer in the process. There's something exciting about moving between physical and digital realms, letting each influence the other.
But at the core, I'll always return to paint. There's a directness and sensuality to it that nothing else quite matches.
Advice for Emerging Artists
Daily Corner: What advice would you give to artists who are just starting their journey?
Emma Richardson: First, develop a sustainable practice. Find ways to work consistently without burning out. Art-making is a marathon, not a sprint.
Second, be honest with yourself about what genuinely excites you, not what you think will impress others or succeed in the market. Authenticity resonates in a way that calculation never will.
Third, study art history deeply, but don't be intimidated by it. Understand your place in the ongoing conversation of art, but don't let that paralyze you.
And finally, build community. The myth of the isolated genius is just that—a myth. We need exchange, feedback, and support to thrive.
Daily Corner: Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with us, Emma. It's been illuminating.
Emma Richardson: Thank you for the thoughtful questions. It's always valuable to articulate these things—it clarifies my own thinking about the work.
Emma Richardson's latest exhibition, "Threshold States," opens at the Meridian Gallery on June 15, 2024, and runs through August 30. For more information about her work, visit www.emmarichardsonart.com.
