Discover Artist Emily Galusha’s Natural Daydreams
Emily Galusha finds artistic balance in the natural world.
Words by Jessi Devenyns Photos by Eric Morales
As a new mom who had just weathered the pandemic as a creative, artist Emily Galusha found that she was suddenly and forcibly surrounded by stillness. However, that moment of calm unfurled a backdrop against which she reconsidered what her art means to the world.
“For a long time, up until maybe five or six years ago, I was really trying hard to be impactful and profound with my artwork.” She adds, “And now, I’ve been really trying to just be quiet and pay attention to where the patterns are and in my artwork instead.” One of the patterns she discovered was a tendency towards movement in her work.
Emily’s studio in Canopy is lined with images of animals ranging from hyper-realistic watercolor magpies to stylized depictions of bison whose heavy bodies defy gravity with an ethereal buoyancy. A range of studies also depicts human anatomy, exploring the way in which movement influences shape, possibly inspired by her former life as a dancer.
However, the thread of movement that currently travels through her work is not just apparent in the paint that graces the canvases themselves. In every action, whether it’s a flick of a brush or a pair of scissors clipping out a reference photo purchased from another artist, Emily’s work flows through her body, bringing creativity and movement to all aspects of her life. Often, this fluidity translates into change.
Being an artist is often a balancing act. On a surface level, color must find equilibrium within a composition. A piece must balance design with function. And for Emily, creative pursuits must also balance within life’s demands.
“I feel like I have this mixed bag going, which is perfect,” she explains of her studio. “It’s like I’ve finally figured out the little patchwork of things that I like to do. So, I’m part-time salaried with a company [as] their creative director.” She smiles, “I like having the stability because freelance is really stressful.” Despite the duality of her cobbled together profession that requires coloring within the lines, working in a business setting has not stymied her creativity. In fact, it has allowed it to blossom by providing her the room to create at a natural pace.
“There are so many wonderful designers out there… which is great, but that’s not where I want to be. And I’ve been there, I’ve won design awards. It’s all exciting. That was just earlier in life.”
Today, she is simply content to paint. Her introspective moments are explored through water color with no destination other than to encourage contemplation and healing in others. The result is a calming river of color that travels across Emily’s studio, guiding viewers through a meditation on natural beauty with each piece of work.
Falling in Love with Texas
Although originally from Arkansas, Emily has fostered a love for the landscape of West Texas that influences her art through both color and subject.
Contact:
916 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 1 #126
eegcreative@gmail.com
emilygalusha.com
@emilyegalusha
