Hi there – thanks for popping into my virtual studio!
I’m Emily Nelson, an artist and illustrator based in Portland, Oregon. I run most of my art business under Illustrations by Em.
My goal as an artist is to live the good life and inspire others to live their’s too. For me, ‘the good life’ is choosing joy in all seasons of life – the good, bad, and in between.
I believe in looking for the good and beauty in every little, seemingly insignificant moment. All those tiny moments can add up to an extraordinary life, and that’s what I’m aiming for in my life and creativity.
I founded my art business in 2018 and went full time with it right before 2020. If you were to ask me on the street what I do for a living, the simplest most succinct answer is I create things that give me, and YOU, joy. My job consists of creating for my patrons on Patreon, illustrating prints and things, selling art filled with color and whimsy here in my shop, doing custom portraits, filming a monthly youtube video, doing design work, and I’ve published one children’s book of many books I’d like to write thus far.
When I’m not at my desk, my easel, in my daydreams, or tapping into my left-side for business advice and admin, I’m sipping coffee while cuddling our sweet fur baby boys Lewis and Toby while they purr their hearts out or laughing my booty off with my husband Austin at something silly.