There’s a certain stillness that can be found on long drives through the winding stretches of the Hume Highway, where the landscape unfolds in muted tones and the clouds hang low like ink stains smudged across the horizon. For Emily, it was during one of these monthly drives from her home in Albury to Melbourne that ‘Graze the Lored’ was born—a delicate yet profound pencil sketch on paper that measures 42 by 29 centimeters. Created in 2023, the piece captures the essence of rural calmness and the quiet elegance of livestock grazing under the watchful eye of moody, shadowed skies.
In ‘Graze the Lored,’ artist masterfully illustrates a moment of simplicity that transcends the everyday. The sheep, head bowed, nibbling at the ground, seem to exist in a state of complete detachment from the noise of the world—a state that she describes as a kind of bliss. It’s this ethereal quality, this almost meditative scene, that draws the viewer in, inviting them to pause and reflect on the beauty of solitude and the comfort of routine.
A Journey Between Realms
Emily’s practice is deeply rooted in exploring the connections between the material, the emotional, and the spiritual. Inspired by the beauty and curiosities of the world, Her work delves into staged scenes that hint at stories yet untold. These visual narratives are suggestive and open-ended, allowing the viewer to step into the frame and complete the story themselves.
Her artistic journey began in the freedom of childhood, where creativity was not just encouraged but nurtured. Growing up with parents who embraced artistic messiness, She developed an early passion for visual storytelling. This passion was later honed at the Canberra School of Art, ANU, where she completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts with honours. Since then, she has exhibited both nationally and internationally, balancing her creative pursuits with the joys and challenges of raising a family.
Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Imagination
What sets her work apart is the seamless blending of reality with imagination. In ‘Graze the Lored,’ this is evident through the atmospheric quality of the landscape and the almost dreamlike portrayal of the livestock. It’s not just a scene from the highway—it’s a glimpse into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, where grazing sheep represent not just rural life, but a state of serene detachment.
Her work encourages us to see beyond the surface, to contemplate the layers of emotion and spirituality that lie beneath everyday scenes. In doing so, she creates a narrative space where the familiar is transformed, and the viewer is left pondering the delicate threads that connect us all—to nature, to routine, and to each other.
The Artistic Process: Capturing Moments of Serenity
The process behind ‘Graze the Lored’ is as meditative as the artwork itself. Pencil on paper allows for a tactile relationship with the image, where each line and shade is thoughtfully considered. Her attention to the subtle play of light and shadow reflects not just technical skill but an emotional connection to the landscape. The result is a piece that feels both intimate and expansive, a window into a moment of stillness that many overlook.
Each stroke serves as a bridge between observation and emotion, allowing the viewer to step into that stretch of highway, to feel the weight of the clouds and the tranquility of grazing sheep. It’s not just an illustration—it’s an invitation to experience that moment of bliss alongside her.
An Invitation to Ponder
Through works like ‘Graze the Lored,’ Emily extends an invitation to pause, to breathe, and to observe the quiet beauty that exists in the spaces between action. Her work is a reminder that there is grace in stillness and that sometimes the most profound moments are the ones that seem the simplest. In a world that moves relentlessly forward, ‘Graze the Lored’ offers a space to step back and appreciate the quiet, unhurried rhythm of nature.
Her artistry not only preserves these moments but magnifies them, allowing viewers to connect with that sense of peace long after they’ve stepped away from the canvas. In this way, Emily’s work becomes not just a depiction of the world but a meditation on it, encouraging us all to graze a little longer, to look a little deeper, and to find beauty in the overlooked.
