Emily Austin Design

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Oxford Dusk, Queen St.

Oxford Dusk, Queen St.

Watercolor, 2019

Castle Combe

Castle Combe

Watercolor 2019

Round the Bend

Round the Bend

Watercolor on paper, 2022.

Vale Near Pen y Fan

Vale Near Pen y Fan

Watercolor on paper, 2021.

Eald Widu (Old Forest)

Eald Widu (Old Forest)

Watercolor on paper, 2021.

Lost in Mist

Lost in Mist

Watercolor, 2015.

On hikes up the mountain ridges of Oahu, one often finds oneself suddenly enveloped in mist. The sense of solitude amid quiet beauty is profound, and I sought to convey that feeling in this painting.

The Fiske Doors of St. Mark's, Philadelphia

The Fiske Doors of St. Mark's, Philadelphia

Watercolor, 2019

Kilns Door

Kilns Door

Watercolor on paper, 2020.

Tintern Sun

Tintern Sun

Watercolor on board, 2019.

Protea Bouquet

Protea Bouquet

Watercolor, 2016

Alaskan Log House

Alaskan Log House

Watercolor, 2019

Dance

Dance

Watercolor, 2023.

The Sea of Perelandra

The Sea of Perelandra

Watercolor 2015

C.S. Lewis's Perelandra remains one of the most visually striking books I have ever read. In Lewis' imagination, the planet Venus is covered with a powerful ocean, under a sky of "pure, flat gold like the background of a medieval picture." My aim was to capture the description of a beautiful, vibrant, powerful, desolate place.

Roads III: Banners of Siem Reap

Roads III: Banners of Siem Reap

Oil on canvas, 2011.

On a trip across Cambodia, I was struck by this avenue in the city of Siem Reap. Movement was everywhere: banners blowing in the breeze, mopeds scuttling along noisily, people walking and trees gently swaying. I wanted to convey the dynamism I felt when I was present in this place.

Roads II: North Shore Oahu

Roads II: North Shore Oahu

Oil on canvas, 2011.

Hawaii once boasted acres of pineapple and sugar cane fields; now these areas have all but disappeared. This road, cutting through one of the few remaining pineapple fields, holds personal significance from the many drives I took along it growing up. My painting explores the layers of present beauty, past history, and uncertain future coexisting in one space.

Roads I: Midwest in Springtime

Roads I: Midwest in Springtime

Oil on canvas; 2011.

In my Roads series I wanted to explore different landscapes and the elements connecting them. I used photos capturing significant moments from my own trips. Traveling often affords just a glimpse of a particular beauty—one look, and you are past it. These paintings attempt to convey a few such moments.

"Roads I: Midwest in Springtime" depicts a farm in rural Ohio. I was struck by the colors of the early grass, the patterns of wear and repair on the road, and the stark trees made softer by distance. Using a palette knife allowed me to focus on the color and space of the whole environment, rather than getting bogged down for too long in any individual element. I concentrated on conveying the feeling of silence and peace held in the original piece.

The Ford of Bruinen

The Ford of Bruinen

Watercolor, 2019

Snow on the Fire-Bush

Snow on the Fire-Bush

Oil pastel, 2009.

Return to the Golden Wood

Return to the Golden Wood

Oil on canvas; 30x20 inches.

This was my first attempt at painting with a palette knife, and I tried to strike a balance between the vibrant fall colors and the textures present in the leaves, tree trunks, and grass.

Magic Woods Trees.jpg
Three-Four-Two and a Half

Three-Four-Two and a Half

Watercolor on paper; 11x14.5 inches.

Doors fascinate me. They hold such mystery and possibility. I chose to paint this because I loved the blue bricks with the red peeking through cracked paint; I loved the reflections on the windowpanes; I loved the whiteness of the door and its unique address painted on the front.

Storm over Shrimp Farms, Oahu

Storm over Shrimp Farms, Oahu

Watercolor on paper; 12x8 inches.

I started with a photo I took myself on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, when a sudden change of weather provided an excellent study in clouds. I experimented with pushing colors just a bit beyond the natural palette for a more story-like feeling to the landscape.

Limes and Oranges

Limes and Oranges

Watercolor on paper; 13x10 inches.

A study in natural shapes, as well as the interplay of color within light and shadow. I love the inherent brightness to citrus fruit, and the luminosity of watercolor seemed a natural fit to portray it.

Cambodian Smiles.jpg
Spring+Woods.jpg
Makapuu.jpg
Sisters

Sisters

Watercolor,  2011.

Autumnal Universe

Autumnal Universe

Oil pastel on paper, 12x12in.

Plumeria Close-Up

Plumeria Close-Up

Oil pastel on paper, 12x12in.

Heliconia Haze

Heliconia Haze

Acrylic on paper sheet; 11x17 inches.

This work was an experiment with shape and movement. I sought to complement the heliconia flower bloom with an abstract, colorful background, which would evoke organic forms while still nesting the subject in an unusual and unique context.

Same Same But Different

Same Same But Different

Watercolor on paper; 12x8 inches.

I developed a love for painting watercolor portraits in college. This image is both a portrait study and a memory preserved—it portrays a young boy I briefly met in Cambodia, who repeated to me the informal slogan of the nation, "Same same but different." When I asked him if I could take his picture, he consented, posing for me quite solemnly.

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The Garden Cathedral

The Garden Cathedral

Watercolor, 2017

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Previous Next
Oxford Dusk, Queen St.
Castle Combe
Round the Bend
Vale Near Pen y Fan
Eald Widu (Old Forest)
Lost in Mist
The Fiske Doors of St. Mark's, Philadelphia
Kilns Door
Tintern Sun
Protea Bouquet
Alaskan Log House
Dance
The Sea of Perelandra
Roads III: Banners of Siem Reap
Roads II: North Shore Oahu
Roads I: Midwest in Springtime
The Ford of Bruinen
Snow on the Fire-Bush
Return to the Golden Wood
Magic Woods Trees.jpg
Three-Four-Two and a Half
Storm over Shrimp Farms, Oahu
Limes and Oranges
Cambodian Smiles.jpg
Spring+Woods.jpg
Makapuu.jpg
Sisters
Autumnal Universe
Plumeria Close-Up
Heliconia Haze
Same Same But Different
IMG_3381-_.jpg
IMG_3387-_.jpg
IMG_3375-_.jpg
The Garden Cathedral


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