About Me
I’m Emily Coffey, a Montréal artist who has spent her whole life on and around Mount Royal. Most of those years I lived on the mountain itself, which covers about 10 km², five times the size of the famous park at its summit. I have always felt a particular affinity to the park’s oak trees, Olmsted’s bucolic landscapes, and the birds that come to the feeders in winter. My hope is to make art that connects people to nature.
My love of the outdoors started at our family cottage. I spent my childhood hiking, exploring, and watching chipmunks scurry over the rocks behind our porch. Today I still head outside whenever I can, whether it’s puddle-jumping with my kids, canoeing, or enjoying quiet sit-spot in the forest to enjoy the smell of pine needles. I hope to capture a little of that joy and wonder in the art I make.
As a kid, I never would have called myself an artist, but I adored craft time. I spent hours making creatures from recycled phone wire, and cards collaged from intricately cut construction paper. At school, I loved nature photography class and would lose track of time on design homework in Photoshop and Illustrator. Drawing and painting eluded me until, years later, a book about zentangle caught my eye. The idea was to divide the paper into smaller sections, which made filling each one far less intimidating. Soon I gained confidence and began branching out, trying new art styles. In 2020, my “pandemic project” (we all had at least one, right?) was brush lettering. I have since enjoyed experimenting with watercolour, acrylic, paint markers, linoprinting, and repeat patterns.
Now, with young kids at home, I need art I can pick up and put down easily, and nothing is easier than a pen and paper. Many of my favourite pieces are simple black-and-white pen drawings inspired by the mountain’s plants, animals, or fungi.
I’m developing a collection inspired by Mount Royal, including greeting cards, annual calendars, and other keepsakes. Soon I hope to add colouring books and maybe even a fabric collection!
Stay In Touch
Follow my latest work on Instagram: @emilycoffey_art
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