Emily Andry
To kick-off our artist spotlight series, am pleased to present Berwyn native Emily Andry. She enjoys various art techniques such as painting, drawing, and collage. In order to continue to expand her artistic skills, she actively remains open and receptive to new mediums and techniques. — Michelle Ruiz, Curatorial Director
“We all have a shared nostalgia no matter the age or location and I like to represent that in my work. A lot of my work is spontaneous, yet sometimes has precise planning. I feel that by sharing my techniques, I can help others explore their own style of art expression.”
Emily attended ISU and is currently attending Morton College to pursue a degree in Art Education with aspirations to obtain a masters in Art Therapy. She has been embraced by the art department at Morton College and is a member of the Art Club, which has helped to foster her creativity by providing a sense of community and belonging. Her grandmother and mother also attended Morton College, which gave Emily a sense of comfort and inter-generational pride.
During Emily’s first semester, she gained insight and mentorship from various professors within the art department at Morton College which has been invaluable when exploring points of interest within the art world and various possible career paths. We look forward to seeing Emily continue to flourish at Morton College as she continues to expand her artistic practice and career endeavors.
Finally, we are excited to invite you to a free workshop led by Emily Andry: Cut & Paste: A Collage Workshop. This is a great opportunity to use your imagination and create a collage using a variety of techniques shared by Emily.
Event
Event Photos
Artist Q&A
A conversation between Michelle Ruiz and Emily Andry
Michelle Ruiz: Being a young artist, there are so many opportunities to explore as well as experiment with various mediums and techniques. What materials are you most excited about presently?
Emily Andry: Every day I find new materials to create with. Even if it doesn’t turn out the best, creating art for myself and holding no expectations is a very liberating and mind-activating practice for me. The medium I’ve been exploring recently is collage and I've been having a lot of fun with it.
MR: Are there any mentors or favorite artists that have inspired your work?
EA: One of my mentors is my grandma, Patricia Clement, who is a painter. Her primary medium is oil paints, and she is currently teaching me how to incorporate that medium into my practice. Her techniques are so unique and I’ve learned a lot by the paintings she’s produced. Her love for art and the beauty of the world around us has really inspired me to develop an artistic practice.
MR: What projects or bodies of work are you working on at the moment?
EA: I have some works in progress, such as pastel drawings and collages, which incorporate embroidery. In addition, I’m working on creating open prints of my work to sell. I’m taking some time to experiment with different mediums, such as ink and gouache, to explore which medium feels fitting and complementary to my style.
MR: Can you tell us about your painting that is currently in the Baird & Warner Art Community Collection, The Spindle, and what drew you to recreating it?
EA: Growing up in Berwyn, The Spindle was a staple in my childhood. I always passed it while in the back seat of the car just always wondering, how’d they get those cars up there? The Spindle came to mind while I was coming up with an idea for a piece to give my grandfather, someone who is a longtime Berwyn resident. The Spindle is a shared nostalgia for both of us, which is why I chose to recreate it. The piece is made with gouache and watercolor on paper.
MR: What types of commissions do you accept within your studio practice?
EA: Some of my commissions I've done in the past have been portraits of families, pets, and friends. Something I really enjoy is creating places that I have not seen in person - I like to lean into visioning what these places can be like by painting and drawing using pastel, pencil and colored pencil. I also enjoy taking commissions of things I don’t get to paint often, like cartoon or anime characters. I’m currently accepting commissions. Those interested can contact me via Instagram: @emyart00, or email: andryemily@yahoo.com.
MR: I am excited about the upcoming collage workshop that you will be leading for the community later this month at the new Baird & Warner office in Berwyn. Can you tell us more about it and what people can expect?
EA: This will be a casual evening with no pressure or expectations to create a masterpiece. Just sit back, learn a little bit about my creative process, and [I will] give you the materials to create a collage of your own. My hope for those who attend this workshop is to draw from the techniques I share and see the potential of creating artwork with simple materials, such as magazines and books. We all have the potential to create, and this can be a great exercise to get out of a low mood or creative funk. I’m very excited to be hosting the event and look forward to connecting with the community in this creative way!
Emily is currently accepting commissions. We have included her email address below for inquiries. We encourage anyone who wishes to see her work and upcoming projects to please follow her on Instagram.
Emily Andry
Email: andryemily@yahoo.com
Instagram: @emyart00
Click here for the catalog to view the Community Art Collection currently on display at Baird & Warner.