Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Geleske.
Hi Emily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been creative for as long as I can remember. I was always drawing and making things as a child, until one day in elementary school when my art teacher told me I was “doing it all wrong”. I took that to heart, and from that moment on, I swore off anything I thought was “artistic.” For a long time, I truly believed I wasn’t creative.
I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I studied psychology in college, then somehow found myself in an accounting career. But looking back, creativity kept finding ways to show up in my life through music, decorating, planning events, scrapbooking, writing, interior design, even restoring old furniture. I just didn’t yet recognize those things as “art.”
Everything changed in 2012 when I signed up for an online art class. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but something clicked. It felt like all of those creative threads I had been following over the years finally came together. That was the moment I realized that this is what I’m meant to do, that I really was an artist and had been all along. I’ve been making art ever since, and I’ve never stopped encouraging others to reconnect with what lights them up, too.
At the heart of my work is a deep belief in the power of beauty. To me, beauty is more than just surface-level prettiness or an aesthetic, it’s presence. It’s in noticing the things all around us that help us feel more connected, grounded, and alive. It’s in the imperfect, the everyday, the handmade. We don’t have to chase it, we just have to be intentional about seeing it. I try to create art that reminds people of that.
I would love to be a full-time artist someday, but for now I still work a full time accounting job. I think it’s important to say that having a “real” job doesn’t make you any less of an artist. Creativity isn’t all-or-nothing – it’s something we carry within us, and we can choose to honor it in whatever time and space we have. For me, making art is both a personal calling and a way to help others slow down, notice more, and live a little more beautifully.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing is ever really a smooth road – things would be a lot easier if it was! Over the last 12 years, there have definitely been ups and downs. I’ve struggled with comparison, especially when I see other artists who seem to be further along in their creative path or who appear to have it all figured out. That kind of thinking can be paralyzing, and it’s fed a lot of self-doubt over the years.
Then there have been seasons where I felt stuck or discouraged, and I packed everything away – literally putting all my supplies in a closet – because it felt too frustrating to keep going. I’ve questioned whether I was wasting my time, whether I was “good enough” to keep calling myself an artist, or if pursuing this dream was even worth it.
On a more practical level, I outgrew my original creative space at the kitchen table, and had to reimagine how to carve out room (both physically and mentally) for my art. That meant claiming a corner of the house, finding alternatives for organization and storage, learning to work in small bursts of time, and letting go of the idea that everything has to look perfect or be done in one sitting.
Balancing creativity with real life is another ongoing challenge. I have a family and work full time outside the home, so my time and energy for making things is limited. Like anyone else, I juggle competing priorities, and sometimes creative time has to take a back seat. But I’ve learned that even small steps matter, and that giving myself permission to keep going and do what I can is what makes the difference.
I’ve also spent a lot of time trying to share my work both online and locally. Some things work out and others don’t. That can be hard to navigate, especially when you’ve poured your heart into something. But every opportunity has taught me something about my voice, my audience, or my process. I’m learning to trust myself more, even when it feels uncomfortable.
All in all, the road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been meaningful. I’ve grown not just as an artist, but as a person. I wouldn’t trade that growth for a straight path, even if it sometimes feels like I’m taking the long way around.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an artist who works primarily in abstract, but I also enjoy exploring other subjects. I love combining layers of paint, paper, lots of different tools and materials, mark-making, and texture to create pieces that feel expressive and maybe even a little bit wild. My process is very intuitive, and I rarely plan pieces out ahead of time – when I do, I tend to too focused on making it “work”, and I lose the looseness and energy that makes a piece come alive. The magic really happens when I let go and follow the piece where it wants to go. That freedom builds layers of depth and character that can’t be recreated, and it gives the work a sense of life and movement that I could never force. It only shows up when I trust the process and give myself permission to explore without expectation.
In addition to painting, I’m passionate about creative living in a broader sense, whether that’s through photography, writing, decorating, sewing, gathering, or encouraging others to reconnect with their own creative spark. I’ve taught workshops, hosted a weekly Art Chat series online for a couple of years, and shared my work both locally and through social media. My goal is to not just make art, but to invite others into a life that feels more beautiful, more intentional, and more awake. Recently, I’ve started offering creative coaching, using everything I’ve learned from my own journey to support and guide other new creatives as they find their voice and gain confidence.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t just focus on the finished piece or product. What I’m really interested in the process of creating, and in how creativity can shift the way we see ourselves and the world. I believe that beauty is all around us, even in the ordinary and overlooked moments of daily life – we just have to slow down a little and choose to see it. That idea is at the heart of everything I make and share.
What I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve kept going. Even when I wanted to give up, I’ve always found my way back because I can’t NOT do it. Through all the challenges, doubts, and detours, I’ve stayed connected to my creativity and used it to help others do the same. For me, that is the real work – not just making beautiful things, but helping people feel more free, inspired, and in touch with their own sense of passion and wonder.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that might surprise people is how much of a homebody I am. I love cozy routines, familiar places, and quiet mornings…and yet, some of my favorite moments of inspiration come from being out in the world, from traveling, or even just wandering through my sweet small town, stumbling across a perfect color palette, and discovering an interesting pattern as I move through my daily life. I think there’s magic in ordinary places, and I’ve learned to pay attention to those small details that most people walk right past. That kind of noticing shows up in my art all the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emilygeleske.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/emilygeleske
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/emilygeleskeart
Image Credits
Emily Geleske
Matt Geleske
