OH HELLO.
I’m Em. I’m the owner and artist behind Em Somerville Illustration.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.
I juggle illustrating with exploring, daydreaming about mountains, taking an overwhelming amount of photos, working full-time in finance, baking up a storm whenever I have a free moment, hopping from place to place, and dating my favourite boyfriend, the internet. It helps that I don’t sleep.
I create this world from my beautiful wooden desk, in Melbourne, Australia, where I surround myself with colourful art and toys to inspire me. My home is lined with plastic Dinosaurs, prints from my favourite artists, pretty photos, postcards from wonderful people and Back to the Future LEGO.
I have an odd sense of humour, a love for the cute, sparkly, creepy and weird. I'm a collector and a clutterer. I like to fill my home with intrigue and wonder. I believe flaws are what make people interesting and beautiful.
My creative process is not a complicated one. I jot down ideas on a near constant basis. My phone, laptop, and billions of notebooks are filled with lists of thoughts. I take photos of books, stationery, stickers, anything wonderful I come across throughout my day that may inspire an idea. I draw pen-to-paper, scan my sketches and then outline and colour using a Wacom tablet. The scratch of my digital pen goes perfectly with aggressively loud music and a cup of tea.
Really, I just like to draw in my underwear sometimes.
I have an ever-evolving list of new ideas and new directions to take my art in, and I can’t wait to bring some of those ideas to life. My hope is simple - to create something that will add a little magic to your existence.
EXHIBITIONS
Lisa Currie's 'The Scribble Project' group exhibition at Melbourne’s City Library Gallery. June 2014.
Project Numbat group exhibition at Little Creatures Brewery, Perth. Jan-Feb 2015.
PRESS
Featured in Issue #1 of Girl Glue zine by Mel Stringer.
Cut Out & Keep - Superhero Sunday. Feb 2014.
Featured in Hello May Bridal Magazine Issue #6 2014.
Hello May Bridal Magazine Blog Feature and competition.
Featured across Say Anything's social media platforms, 2016.