Artist Bio
Emma Gonzalez was born in Sussex, England in 1965. Throughout her youth, nature proved a constant sanctuary in which to simultaneously lose and discover herself. Raised in the countryside among four spirited and headstrong brothers, the short-cropped, rolling hills of the South Downs often beckoned her into a peaceful escape beyond the walls of her boisterous household. There, the imperceptible interaction of soul and space nurtured a longing for inner exploration and autonomy.
At 18, influenced by her father’s architectural drawings and her mother’s lifelong interest in photography, Gonzalez took her journey of self-discovery deeper with art courses at Eastbourne College. She then pursued an intensive study of photography, film, and television at the Arts University College in Bournemouth. When behind the camera lens, she stepped confidently into a role of creative experimentation, exhibiting a natural eye for balanced composition. Through still imagery, she eagerly examined the interplay of light and dark, familiar and unfamiliar, capturing a vibrant, ethereal nuance in well-worn landscapes.
As Gonzalez found her footing in the world of full-time photography, the lives and relationships of those she loved back at home began to crumble. Even from miles away, the turmoil consumed her artistic energy, exhausting her mental focus. Disconnected from her work and mired in uncertainty regarding her future, Gonzalez received a choice bit of counsel that shifted her trajectory entirely: go and find a change of scenery. Just a few weeks later, she boarded a flight to California armed with one small suitcase, leaving behind the refuge of her established surroundings for a serendipitous encounter with the great unknown.
Steadily, nestled among the diverse coastal woodlands and sprawling chaparral of Los Padres Forest, her mind and body reawakened to the simple joy of traversing uncharted territory. As the weeks stretched into months and the years into decades, Gonzalez discovered a renewed sense of home in a realigned relationship with nature. Drawn to the field of equestrian training, riding, and packing into the mountains, she reoriented herself upon the land, finding solace in the sacred connection between animal and earth. In time, after committing creative energy to forge cherished roles as wife, mother, business owner, and community member, she returned to the practice of art as a homecoming to herself.
A lifetime of reverent observation and relentless exploration is now realized in a new collection of oil on canvas pieces that honor a profound appreciation for land and home. Inspired by her grandmother’s artistic accomplishments and the work of classical painters, Gonzalez reinterprets the great outdoors with a dynamic, dreamlike aesthetic. Her paintings are displayed and sold at Gallery 113 in Santa Barbara, as well as at the Carpinteria Arts Center and Goleta Valley Library. She is also set to exhibit her work in May of 2024 at Villa LVI in Hove, England.
Committed to honing her craft, Gonzalez continues to perfect the fundamentals in courses at Santa Barbara City College. She is also a proud member of SCAPE, Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment, and the Goleta Valley Art Association.