February 2024

Wellspring Mother Artist Feature

Emily A. Pastor

We are delighted to introduce Emily A. Pastor, a painter who discovered her artistic interest and ability after becoming a mother. She primarily creates representational works with oil and especially enjoys portraiture and figurative painting. She currently lives in the scenic Columbia River Gorge of Oregon with her husband and three children. We know you will enjoy the wisdom and beauty that she shares with us in her interview and we encourage you to visit her website: www.emilyapastor.com to see more of her artwork and follow her on Instagram: @emilyapastor and Twitter: @emilyannepastor

Enjoy!
Mia + Jess

WELLSPRING: To what do you attribute your style of making?

EMILY: My work is inspired by chiaroscuro from the baroque and classical era (such as Caravaggio), French neoclassical portraiture (such as Bouguereau), and the alla prima work of John Singer Sargent. I love dramatic lighting, lively skin tones, and thoughtful composition, and seek to combine the best from these different inspirations to arrive at my own interpretation of a subject. I am also inspired by modern painters like Richard Schmid, Jeremy Lipking, and Alex Venezia who use classical technique with a fresh approach.

WELLSPRING: Where do you look for inspiration?

EMILY: Besides these inspiring painters, I am always analyzing visual relationships in my surroundings for inspiration. If I’m driving, I’m looking at how the colors in the hills change as they get farther from me and imagine how I would mix that color. If I’m talking with my husband, I’m looking at the color changes in his skin. Everything is so wonderful and complex. I’m often trying to figure out how I would simplify things for a painting. I guess I’m always looking for inspiration, and it feels as if I have a file cabinet in my brain of all the information I’ve gathered. The first step of inspiration, for me, is just paying attention. Inspiration is everywhere.

WELLSPRING: We’d love to know more about the space where you create. What does it look like? Is it within your home? What is the view like outside your window? ect...

EMILY: I just moved my studio back home after renting a space within walking distance for the past year. It was not a change I was excited about because it felt like a loss of autonomy, but it actually has been very good for my art practice. My husband works from home, and we homeschool, so fitting a studio in our small farmhouse seems like a lot to ask. I don’t have a dedicated room, but float between a few common spaces. For smaller works, I paint in our laundry/utility room and for larger pieces I work in my husband’s office or our sunroom. I find more inspiration at home because there is so much more life happening all around. The best ideas always come while doing something like the dishes, so working from home allows me to get something started while the inspiration is fresh without having to wait for my designated “studio time.” I still have set studio hours when I work, but I’m finding I am actually getting more done in the margins at home than I did in my separate studio. Our home backs up to the Oregon state forest, so I enjoy views of local fauna and flora wherever I end up painting, so I can’t complain!

WELLSPRING: How has your motherhood journey impacted your creative process or your way of seeing / thinking?

EMILY: I did not pursue art (or even think I was artistic) until after I became a mother, so really, I don’t know what’s it’s like to create apart from motherhood. Motherhood was the incubator in which my inner artist developed, and I first picked up a paintbrush. My greatest joys and griefs have come to me through motherhood. Those experiences have expanded me as a person and tethered my heart to the importance of truth, beauty, and goodness. I do not see my artistic life and my motherhood as oppositional forces, but each part strengthens the other. This doesn't mean I don't feel tension between these two areas of my life, I do. It's something I wrestle with on a regular basis. However, the limitations on my time and attention have made me more disciplined and devoted to both my motherhood and my painting.

WELLSPRING: One of our new favorite questions: Do you have a favorite children’s book? Either from your childhood or from reading with your own children?

EMILY: Reading, like art, has always been a healing thing for our family. I love anything illustrated by Barbara Cooney or Tasha Tudor. I love stories about siblings and the scrapes they get into, like The Melendy Family series by Elizabeth Enright or the Penderwicks. If I had to pick a favorite children’s novel, it would be The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings.

WELLSPRING: How and where you see your faith intersect with your creative expression as a mother artist?

EMILY: I believe that creation should spring from love and when it does, it becomes sacred. I never want to create utilitarian art that values a message above the craftmanship. To me, that feels like propaganda no matter how good the message may be. I feel called to be the best painter I can and do it out of love and trust that nothing done out of love is wasted. My faith sustains my art even if it's not overly apparent in the work itself. Faith is the life-blood to my creative expression.

WELLSPRING: What excites you about what you are working on right now?

EMILY: I am working on my first large body of work in hopes of getting a solo show in the next year or two. The working title of this portrait and figurative collection is called “Multitudes” and is inspired by the complexity and depth within women. It will feature women and girls with red hair and explore themes around coming-of-age and the archetypes of child/mother/elder. I have some beautiful redheads in my life, and they have been lovely and gracious models to work with. A collection like this feels very alive, staying fresh and exciting as it evolves. Songs and poems are always popping into my head as I paint and will often inspire the title to my paintings. I am two paintings into this collection and I’m excited to see it all come together.

WELLSPRING: What encouragement or wisdom would you share with another mother wanting to pursue her creative call?

EMILY:  I love this question. I think many mothers feel selfish or guilty for pursuing a creative calling, especially if it is not contributing financially to their family. I think this is why we see the commodification of so many creative paths. There is this idea that your creative work is only valid if someone else is willing to pay you for it. I'm not saying creative mothers should not sell their work, that's not my point at all, but we can easily sacrifice our creative call for the sake of commercial success or because we are afraid to aim higher. All this to say, I think I would tell another mother to not be afraid. Don't be afraid of big dreams and big desires. Don't be afraid to want something even if it seems impractical. It is never too late to listen to that creative voice inside of us. Our creativity is a gift from God and a gift to God. Let it out. It doesn't need to become a vocation or even a small business. In fact it might be better if it doesn't. Your creativity is valid.

WELLSPRING: Thank you so much for responding to our interview questions! Would you please share with us where we can see, read, or experience more of your creative work?

EMILY: I share much of my work on social media through Instagram (@emilyapastor) and Twitter (@emilyannepastor) and through my website emilyapastor.com. My work can also be found in person at various exhibitions.

We hope you enjoyed this Wellspring Mother Artist feature!

Stay tuned for more features within each newsletter. Are you Interested in being featured? Send us an email over at wellspringmotherart@gmail.com with a statement of interest and share your Instagram @ handle or other social media presence.