The Nostalgic and Emotive Still-Life Paintings of Emma Pfeiffer
Sydney-based artist Emma Pfeiffer’s talent extends to both painting abstract and still-life works. Her current body of work captures intimate still-life scenes – drawn from her love of the countryside.
Words & Photography: Hande Renshaw
‘I’m still quite early in my art journey but it’s definitely here to stay. I would be doing it even if no one was watching and I wasn’t earning from it,’ says Emma Pfeiffer. Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘Painting still life taps into all the senses. A bowl of oranges for example, the audience can feel, taste and smell them as much as just seeing the visual representation,’ says Emma Pfeiffer. Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘I am so grateful and blessed to have the childhood I had. To spend so much time being creative in nature and around animals was such a gift, and I think it shaped me hugely to who I am today.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘It’s my form of meditation and being able to paint everyday is such a joy. I can paint all day everyday and it doesn’t feel like work –it’s a huge gift to have a life where you love doing what you do everyday’. Photo: Hande Renshaw
Emma Pfeffier’s sun-filled studio space. Photo: Hande Renshaw
Sydney-based artist Emma Pfeiffer has been painting and drawing from a young age – having grown up in a family filled with art and creativity. Her father was a landscape architect and her mum’s cousin, Gillian Hook, a talented watercolour artist based in the Southern Highlands, who taught Emma valuable drawing and painting techniques .
‘I think watching my dad spend hours at his drawing board designing gardens hugely influenced my creative interests – his office was at home so I would spend hours with him, drawing and painting while listening to Harry Belafonte,’ shares Emma. ‘Gillian was also a huge influence and taught me a lot about technique in both drawing and painting, and particularly colour theory.’
The countryside has been a big influence in Emma’s life – growing up in the Southern Highlands and also spending time at her family farm in Cooma regularly. There she would be surrounded by the beauty of the nature, learning how to muster cattle, drive tractors and have picnics in the paddock with family friends.
‘The country is a real love of mine and I’m constantly inspired to paint scenes that reflect this. My work is quite allegorical in that sense. The through-line of my work is femininity and the values typically associated, including nurturance, empathy, warmth, and calm. So whether it be a tablescape of a meal that meant to be shared with others, a scene of food that provides nourishment, a woman holding her child or a country landscape, these are all things that I find nurturing to the soul.’
When she was in 18 years old, Emma had a motorbike accident on the farm, where she fell off the bike in a paddock. The accident resulted in bed rest for 3 months, Emma unable to get up for even short periods of time. ‘I struggled with depression during this time as my year was graduating high school while I was stuck in bed. So I turned to drawing to deal with the pain and frustration. Once I was able to sit upright for longer periods of time, I would paint many hours a day, for weeks on end, which continued to develop my skills.’ Painting was a practice that was incredibly healing and meditative for the artist, helping her move through a difficult period in her life. ‘Painting is such a calming practice for me, I have always turned to it when dealing with difficulties and stress in my life.’
Emma recently quit her corporate job to focus on painting full time, a career change she is incredibly excited about. ‘It’s my form of meditation and being able to paint everyday is such a joy. I can paint all day everyday and it doesn’t feel like work, so it’s a huge gift to have a life where you love doing what you do everyday,’ she says.
Emma’s practice shifts between abstract and still life, switching between the two styles to maintain her creativity and not feel stuck. There’s always something to work on – both mediums an ever-evolving learning process. ‘At the moment I’m focusing on still life but I definitely think I’ll incorporate abstract again at some stage,’ she says.
The artist’s current artworks capture nostalgic country scenes: a picnic set up in a paddock, bowls of fruit, seafood and the prettiest table settings. ‘I love painting food and still life because it’s something everyone can connect over. I think of my mum and grandmother when I see oysters because of how much they love eating them, but someone else will have a completely different association and appreciation for them. Painting still life also taps into all the senses – I hope that my art can provide a little tranquility, restoration and calm in the homes of others whenever they choose. I hope it can be a reminder of what’s important in life.’
Coming up for Emma is a collection titled, Pittwater, which will be available online and in store at Good Day Lifestyle Co in Mudgee, from November to December. Her collection of paintings, Home of Mine, will also be on exhibition at Walcha Gallery in November. Emma is also part of our current Art Folk online exhibition, I’ll Take You There.
‘Exhibiting in galleries is still something I’m quite new at, so it feels like a huge milestone and I reflect on how far I’ve come. It’s been a big and beautiful journey. I wouldn’t change it for anything.’
‘I hope that my art can provide a little tranquility, restoration and calm in the homes of others whenever they choose. I hope it can be a reminder of what’s important in life.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘I use acrylic paint and muted tones to reflect restorative, calming qualities. I generally start my process by sketching ideas out beforehand, or imagining the scenes.’Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘There are so many reasons why I love the country. I find it so restorative, freeing and nurturing. It feels like home.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘Once I’ve sketched the items out on the canvas, I use a large, flat brush to find the shapes and light of the objects first before I move into great definition. I like to have moment in my brush strokes to give each piece energy and character.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
“I think modern life undermines everyday meal sharing and so my art also serves as a reminder of the importance of relationships, community and connection.”
‘I treat my day just like any other work day, because I think in order to work for yourself you need to be incredibly accountable as there is no one else telling you what to do – because I love it so much, it doesn’t feel like work, which is such a gift.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘It’s odd now living in an apartment block and being on top of so many people and not really having anything much to do with them, it’s such a stark contrast [to country life] and a different way of living that doesn’t feed me as much.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw