Emily Flanigan

Biography

My name is Emily Flanigan and though originally from England, I have resided in Melbourne for the last 20 years.

I am self taught, and have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I love working with Acrylic paints and graphite pencil. I would say that I am drawn to the exploration of my journey as an artist, and so my works, though different from each other in style at times, all have a common thread of quietness and a certain contemplative quality. They are a place where I seek calm away from the bustle of the everyday world.  

One example of this is in My “Ghost Series” landscapes, which have been strongly inspired by the haunting aura of the misty rain drizzled moor country of my native West Yorkshire, mixed with the stark, mesmerising beauty and expanse of the Australian countryside.

I love the flow of water, and the unpredictable nature of working with it as a medium with acrylic paint. Unlike the control I have over my pencil drawings, in this series I have to let go of any preconceived ideas and follow where the paint takes me.
In these particular works I seek to convey the human experiences of memory and solitude through the contrasting shades of black and white, with hints of colour to create a moody and ethereal atmosphere of mystery and other worldliness.

More examples of my work can be found on my instagram account @emilyflaniganartist