Emily Schroth is a 23-year-old self-taught artist from Kitchener. She started out using sidewalk chalk and crayons and has since graduated to acrylics and brushes. Recent life changes have compelled her to dive deeper into her love for painting.
Creating has given her a much-needed outlet of expression, where words fail to depict the depth of her emotions. She often find herself trapped in a cycle of rumination, and no sheer amount of will can bring her out of it. Painting is a release from that. Her pieces are a reflection of her innermost thoughts, every brush stroke is a piece of her.
Her body of work consists mostly of semi-realistic, vibrant acrylic paintings. She’s recently become fascinated with the world of digital art and looks forward to exploring different styles and techniques in the future.
As Guest Curator at Minds Eye Studio Art Gallery and Yoga Studio, I am pleased to present Love that Remains, a solo exhibition of Emily’s work at the gallery from October 22nd to November 26th. Private viewings are available and the artist reception will be on November 24th from 7:30-10 pm. Event info is here.
The works in Love that Remains offer a glimpse into her childhood and are almost autobiographical in nature. Each piece offers an interpretation of her core memories and past emotions. The objective is to elicit-through her own experiences-a feeling of wistful longing for an irrecoverable condition.
The imagery used is reminiscent of a moment, feeling, familiar place, or sentimental object from my early years. The vivid colours mimic the experience of seeing life through youthful eyes.
The intention behind the exhibit is to evoke feelings of bittersweet nostalgia. Viewers are invited to reflect on what once was and reconnect with their inner child.
“Creating this exhibition pushed me past the limits of what I believed I could do. It gave me the opportunity to reconnect with myself, and the experiences that have made me who I am. ”
This is your first solo exhibition. How does it feel to have your work out of your studio and into the world?
It’s so surreal. I was adjusting to becoming a first-time mom when you reached out to me. I was really struggling to balance caring for my daughter and caring for myself. I wasn’t filling my cup, and I didn’t recognize myself anymore.
Creating this exhibition pushed me past the limits of what I believed I could do. It gave me the opportunity to reconnect with myself, and the experiences that have made me who I am. I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished, and endlessly thankful for everyone who supported me on this journey.
Besides graduating from sidewalk chalk and crayons, how has your artistic practice changed?
I’ve dabbled in various mediums over the course of my artistic journey. As a kid I wrote poetry, and illustrated stories that my sisters and I came up with. I created clay charms and sold them out of my locker in middle school. Over the years I’ve experimented with pottery, jewelry making, and resin art, but painting and drawing have always been the most fulfilling for me.
I didn’t really have a distinct style until I started working on the pieces for this exhibition. I spent so many hours pouring my heart into my work, making sure every piece felt authentically me. By the time I finished the last painting, I felt like I’d found myself as an artist. I’m excited to continue to develop my skills and see where life takes me.
Did you always know that you were going to be an artist, or do something creative?
I felt that way when I was young, but I think the “real world” got to me as I grew older. As soon as a kid says “I want to be an artist when I grow up”, the idea that art isn’t a real job, and there’s no money to be made in it, are shoved down their throats.
When I graduated high school, I worked as a mechanic apprentice for a couple years. I didn’t have the confidence to pursue the career I really wanted in social work, because I was really intimidated by the prospect of going to university. Art took a back burner in my life at that time, too.
Now I’m a student of social development studies, and I’m also working towards my art therapy certification. When my maternity leave is up, I’ll be returning to my job at a local homeless shelter. I’m going to remain committed to growing as an artist and sharing my work with others.
Do you remember the first piece of art you ever created?
I can’t pinpoint a specific piece, but I recall reading a book of poems I’d written to my mom when I was four. There were poems (with illustrations) about dogs, Santa Claus, and one about the bright yellow toilet my parents had in their ensuite bathroom. I’m not sure if that qualifies as art.
There have been a few occasions where I’ve visited friends, and they’ve shown me artwork I made for them when we were kids, many of which I didn’t remember.
What is your creative process for painted works vs digital works? What process takes longer?
I always start with a concept or idea. For this exhibition, every piece was inspired by my childhood memories. For paintings, I like to start by covering the canvas completely in a colour of my choosing. It’s somehow more satisfying than painting from a blank canvas. From there I just paint a rough outline of my vision and go from there. I often don’t go in with a plan in terms of a colour scheme, textures, or anything like that. I just do what feels right in the moment. There’s a lot of layering involved, and a lot of experimenting and revision. It takes me a long time to get a painting to the point where I feel it’s complete. I often feel stuck and frustrated with how a painting is turning out, and I’ll walk away from it to start something new. Having a deadline for completing pieces challenged me to push through these frustrations and keep trying things until I felt satisfied.
For digital pieces, I actually use the procreate pocket app on my phone. I’ll spend hours beforehand looking through Pinterest, creating inspiration boards and finding colour palettes that speak to me. Sometimes I like to make a collage of different images, objects, and colours that I want to draw from. When I finally feel like I’m ready to create, I start with an outline and fill it with colour until it feels right. I love the freedom I get to play with hue and saturation. There are so many ways I can manipulate a piece to achieve the atmosphere I’m looking for. I’m hoping to get an iPad and Apple Pencil in the future so I can really get the most out of digital creating.
Many of the pieces in this exhibition feature bright colours. What is your favourite colour to work with and why?
I’m not sure if I have a favourite colour to work with per se, but I used an entire tube of fluorescent pink for this exhibition. Pink feels nostalgic to me. When I was a young kid, everything HAD to be pink. As I aged, I struggled with depression and anxiety I began wearing almost exclusively black and dark coloured clothing. Maybe I subconsciously associate the colour pink with a happier time in my life, and that spills into my work.
What is your dream creative project?
Right now, I want to recreate a painting I did years ago. The first painting I created that really launched me into exploring my creative side; a finger painting of a desert landscape under moonlight with a pod of whales floating in the sky. I feel I’ve grown so much as an artist even just these past few months, and I want to bring my old concept to life in a new way. I’d love to create a collection of surreal works, with that piece being the cornerstone.
At 23, you are still considered a young person. Do you think that you’ll have nostalgia for this time in your life?
Definitely. My early twenties have been filled with some of the best experiences of my life. I know with certainty I’ll look back on the birth of my daughter with love in my heart and stars in my eyes. Even now I feel nostalgic for that time. But there are many difficult memories, too. A traumatic pregnancy, heartbreak, and the struggles of single parenthood; all of which will be painful to look back upon.
Nostalgia can be so bittersweet. I know my future self will reflect on the way life once was, and how I wish certain things were different. I hope I can be kind to my former self in those moments.
Maybe ten years from now, I’ll create an exhibition inspired by nostalgia for this time in my life.
Besides what you’ve mentioned in your exhibition statement, what else or who inspires you?
My daughter has been a massive inspiration, for this exhibition and for all aspects of my life. Watching her grow and develop has been truly indescribable, in the best way. Motherhood has allowed me to view my own life experiences through a completely different lens. She’s the motivator behind my healing journey, a big part of which encompasses my artistry.
My late grandmother was an incredible woman who always believed in, invested in, and encouraged me in my artistic development. She repeatedly told me that I had a God-given gift, and that I was meant to share it with others. I would not be where I am today without her unrelenting love and support. She would have been over the moon to see my work on display.
My recent works have also been influenced by the 1915 Victorian house I live in with my family. Apart from the incredible architecture, I’m inspired by the many memories that have been created here by generations past. I can’t help but wonder who lived in these walls before me, how they grew up, whether they were happy here.
Follow Emily on Instagram
Interview by Glodeane Brown
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