Artist On The Cutting Edge:  Good Morning Emilie, how are you today?

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EMILIE BEADLE:  I am great, how are you?

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AOTCE:  To get right into the interview let me ask you why or how you became interested in the arts?

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EMILIE BEADLE: I have always loved art and created.  Ever since I was a child.  Growing up, I experimented with a variety of mediums and styles.  I lived in Hawaii for a few years and that is really where I began working seriously as an artist.  I was introduced to working with a palette knife while I was there and I developed a direction.

 

AOTCE: How did living in Kauai, Hawaii influence your work?

 

EB:  I had two initial mentors in Hawaii that played a huge role in where I am today.  The first, was a  professional portrait artist who was giving a workshop.  I attended this and learned a lot "rules".  Next, I met a self-taught local artist, Giorgio Naranjo who introduced me to painting with a palette knife.  We spent time painting en plein air at a variety of Kauai's beaches and gardens.  From this point on, all of my work has been done with a palette knife.

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AOTCE: Did you have any formal training, not that it matters?

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EB:  Aside from high school classes I do not have any formal training..

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AOTCE:  Does working with a palette knife give you more freedom to create?

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EB:  I don't know if it give me more freedom necessarily but I believe that working with a palette knife forces you to use bold, confident movements and I enjoy that aspect of it.

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AOTCE:  How long have you been in the art world?

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EB: Five (5) years

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AOTCE:  Did you start off working with a palette knife?

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EB:  I have been working with a palette knife since 2012, when I was in Hawaii.

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AOTCE: Have you always worked abstractly?

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EB:  No, my early works were much more representative.  It actually wasn't until recently that I started working primarily abstract.

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AOTCE:  What prompted your move from representation to abstraction?

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EB:  I felt like I had this need to break free from my external inspirations and recognize and explore more of an internal examination of emotions.

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AOTCE:  What is your inspiration or motivation?

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EB:  My inspiration comes from examining my own life and emotions.  I use poetry and music to channel what I want to come through in my art.

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AOTCE:  Does these emotions come across to the viewer or is the viewer expected to form their own opinion?

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EB:  I hope the viewer will interpret the work and develop their own opinion for themselves.  With that being said, I do hope that when they see what I create that they can feel the intensity that went into it. 

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AOTCE:  According to your bio, poetry has a big influence on your work?

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EB:  I enjoy reading poetry and I have found myself including it in my process.  I often read poetry before I paint and use it to channel my thoughts.  I like Rupi Kaur a lot and also some of Rumi.  Rupi Kari is a young female poet and I have two favorite poems by her. 

 

 

 

 

 

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AOTCE:  Do you create your own poetry?

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EB:  I do not write my own poetry...yet!

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AOTCE:  I understand music has a big influence too.  What kind of music do you listen to and who are the poetry artist that you read?

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EB:  I listen to a variety of music.  I am really all over the place in that sense!  My current favorite son is Encore by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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AOTCE:  You have moved from a warm climate back to Michigan.  What city in Michigan and has it influenced your work?

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EB:  I am primarily inspired by Detroit, since that is where I spend most of my time.

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AOTCE:  Your work is very strong.  How do you approach an empty canvas?

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EB:  I start with spray paint actually, and then I sometimes do a quick sketch or write a poem onto the canvas to direct my thoughts.  When I actually begin painting my movements are very bold, quick, and intuitive.

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AOTCE:  How big do you usually work?

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EB:  It varies, typically I don't go smaller than 24 x 36.  I really have been enjoying working on pieces that are 48 x 48.  The biggest I've worked is 48 x 72.

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AOTCE:  Does working on a large canvas make it easier to use such bold strokes?

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EB:  Yes!  I find it more difficult when I try to work too small.

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AOTCE:  If you were to think about artists in the past, say the Modern era, who would you say is someone's work you admire?

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EB:  Willem de Kooning, Jean-Paul Riopelle and Joan Mitchell.

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AOTCE:  Do you have a show of your work coming up?

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EB:  Yes, I have a show coming up at Robert Kidd Gallery in Birmingham, MI.  I also have a show opening September 9th in Dallas, Texas at Beaudry Gallery.  The date for my show at Robert Kidd gallery has not been finalized at this point.

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AOTCE:  I would like to end this interview with you providing a final statement about your art?

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EB:  As for a final word about my art, I just want to say that I am so grateful that I have been welcomed into the Detroit art community with such warmth and encouragement.  I am really excited to continue exploring and developing my abstract work.  I hope my work can bring others the sense of peace and joy that it brings me to create.

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