“I have been creating my whole life,” says multi-disciplinary Australian artist and illustrator Emma Leonard. “It’s pretty much all I think about!” Melbourne-based Emma specialises in fashion, beauty, portraiture and botanical illustration, and finds inspiration in nature and literature. She blends traditional and digital techniques to capture beauty and detail in all its creative forms. “My work is usually feminine and delicate,” she says. “I love exploring tiny details like wisps of hair and flower petals, but I am also working on loosening up and making my artwork more fun by experimenting with bright colour palettes and geometric patterns.”

Emma has had exhibitions of her work both in Australia and overseas, and her ethereal pieces not only grace the walls of art-loving homes but have also appeared in various publications, including Shout Out to the Girls, which celebrates the achievements of high-profile Australian women. Here, Emma shares her creative process and explains how practising mindfulness allows her to take new approaches, in her art and life.  

Celebrate Creativity Everywhere

Emma has always been a creative person and feels most comfortable when her hands and mind are kept busy.

Creativity comes in all shapes and forms for Emma, who embraced her artistic side from a young age. “I think I have always been a creative person,” she says. “For as long as I can remember I have had such a passion for all art forms and feel most at ease when keeping my hands busy. Whether it’s drawing, painting, sewing, baking – I just feel better when I’m making something from nothing.” 

And what is her favourite art form? “Definitely painting and drawing,” says Emma. “I love the texture of thick paint, the way a pencil catches on a piece of paper when you’re sketching.”

Finding Inspiration to Get Started

Inspiration can be found everywhere – if you take the time to look a little closer, says Emma. “I try to be very observant and take inspiration from all I see around me,” she says. “A dress I couldn’t stop thinking about, a flower that took my breath away while I was out walking my dog, a tile pattern on the floor of my favourite cafe.”

While making sketches of the simple things that capture the eye can work for some artists, Emma tucks them away in her mind for later use. “I make a mental note of all those small but beautiful everyday moments and wait for the opportunity to include them in a piece of art,” she says.

When inspiration fails to come, the mother-of-two gets moving by going for a run or a hike, or rounding up the kids for a bit of nature bathing. “I explore with my children – they help me slow down and always seem to notice things I might have otherwise missed,” says Emma, who gives the example of when her son spotted a pile of slow-moving spitfire caterpillars on an adventure by her local creek. “I think it’s only a matter of time before a little spitfire turns up in one of my pieces!”

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Choose a Creative Process That Works for You

Emma Leonard applies a methodical approach to her creative process by making lists of thoughts and ideas.

With a passion for drawing botanical illustrations and a dedication to finessing the smallest things like a curl of hair, it’s not surprising that Emma takes a studied approach to her creative tasks. “My creative process is usually quite methodical,” says the self-described list-maker. “I start by making a list of thoughts and ideas that might be relevant before creating a page or two of tiny rough sketches, which are really just loose shapes that would make sense to nobody but me.”

Emma then researches her project and collects reference images to help inspire her colour combinations and pattern choices for her artwork and illustrations. “Next, I create one or two more detailed black and white sketches before moving on to the finished coloured artwork, which is usually completed digitally,” she says.

And what advice does she have for those just starting out on their creative journey? “Don’t try and be perfect,” she says. “Just allow yourself to be open and playful and see where it takes you.”

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Taking Creativity Moment by Moment

Emma says that applying a sense of mindfulness to her creative process allows her to push past challenges.

Always having a project on the go can help you stay present, says Emma, who in addition to creating illustrations and artworks offers a live fashion illustration service to capture moments (and outfits!) at events such as weddings and bridal showers. “I know I always feel better when I have a creative project on the go that I can put down and come back to when I have a spare moment,” she says. 

For projects that encourage mindfulness, she recommends ones that are simple and repetitive such as sewing or drawing a pattern. “I also believe when I force my mind to solve problems in a low-risk situation, like when I’m working on a drawing or painting, helps me to feel more comfortable with looking for a creative solution to higher-stakes problems in my day-to-day life,” she says. “Mindfulness helps me push past those challenging moments and concentrate on being open and knowing that everything works out fine in the end.”

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Tips for Getting Into the Creative “Flow” State 

Emma Leonard says that preparation is the key to getting into a creative flow state.

“Flow” has been described as a state when you become so focused on something that there is a sense of connection between body and mind that can lead to feelings of motivation and a feeling of fulfilment. For Emma, preparation is the key for getting into a creative flow state. “A clean and tidy workspace is imperative for me to achieve my creative goals,” says Emma. “I also like it to be quiet and begin each creative session with a plan of what I hope to achieve.”

Achieving a state of creative flow can have many benefits. “When I am in the zone I feel calm, capable and at ease,” she says. “I’m not worried about what will come next, just enjoying each moment as it happens, taking each challenge as it comes.” For more tips on achieving “flow”, visit Smiling Mind.

What To Try

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