Emily Flint reflects on personal life through art
By: Christian Shields | Photos By: Ashlee Glen
With a passion for painting and a heart for her family, local artist Emily Flint tackles tough, personal mental health struggles through her craft.
Growing up in a family of artists and art enthusiasts, Flint found a deep appreciation for beauty at a young age. She attended Savannah College of Art and Design and Virginia Commonwealth University to pursue degrees in photography and art education, respectively. In 2009, she discovered a specific affection for painting and has continued that pursuit ever since.
The mother of three girls, who she affectionately refers to as her “little muses,” Flint draws heavily from the themes of family and emotion to cultivate her masterpieces. In doing so, she not only hopes to develop a stronger relationship with her children but also provide herself an outlet to release any pent-up tension.
“It’s vital for me right now, because, for one, I find parenting to be pretty stressful,” she said. “This is a way for me to process that stress in a positive way. It’s also a way for me to refocus on my kids and see them in a different light. … My hope is that it is making me a better mom, so I can show up better for them.”
Flint also draws heavily from her past and current mental health struggles, illustrating them on the canvas through the symbolism of stinging insects.
“[Mental health has] come such a long way since I was a child as far as awareness and stigma, but there is still a stigma attached to certain mental illnesses,” she said, noting she has battled major depression since the age of 12 and has a long history of anxiety and ADHD. “I am pretty passionate about being honest and being vocal about mental illness and how it can show up.”
While she often begins her pieces with a surreal idea of what the finished result will be, she is also not afraid to just get messy with the paints and find catharsis in the process.
Flint joined the Lynchburg Art Club three years ago but has become much more involved in the past year, now serving as the group’s head of marketing. Through everything she does, she hopes to be a light in the lives of others and help them find a sense of belonging.
“To feel like you’ve impacted someone [to change their lives] is really special,” she said. “Often, artists have a lot of guilt or a feeling that their art isn’t important enough to pursue. Sometimes I have wondered whether this is a worthwhile venture. To feel like you’ve actually connected with somebody and actually helped somebody through something would be the ultimate goal.”
Flint has exhibited her work in Lynchburg and nationally. This year she has participated in the Lynchburg Art Club’s Georgia Morgan Show, Portrayed: A Juried National Exhibition of Portraiture at Norfolk’s d’Art Center, The Academy Center of the Arts National Juried Art Exhibition, and Steven Francis Fine Art’s A Show of Portraits: Phillip Geiger and 23 Artists. She is currently showing at the Axis Gallery in Sacramento, California, and participating in the 52nd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival.
Readers interested in learning more about Emily Flint and her craft can connect with her through her website, emilyflint.com, and Instagram account, @emilyflintart.
