08/18/2022
My name is Emma Horton, I am an artist, scientist, and musician originally from Seattle Washington, but now based in San Francisco California. I go by EmmaCate because Cate is my grandmother’s namesake. My name is in honor of my love for her and of my mom who she raised, and who has taught me everything I know about artistry and creativity.
In short, I create bold scientifically inspired abstract artwork for curious people so that they can experience the joy of discovery that inspires me every day as a scientist and artist.
I base my abstract paintings on scientific phenomena and provide an explanation of the topic that inspired my painting with each purchase! I create because I want to share the joy of discovery that I experience in my scientific endeavors with others. I make art for people who want to stimulate deeper thinking and connection with the innerworkings of the world we live in and share it with people they care about. I am constantly in awe of the beauty around us and want to share this feeling with everyone I meet. I want my art to make you to feel more connected to the wonders of life by observing and understanding the whys of our world. My art embodies this mission through exploration of form, color, and texture inspired by what I see in the microscope and elsewhere in nature.
I am currently getting my PhD in developmental biology, and I’m constantly amazed by what I see in my day to day. When observed up close, nature shows us shapes and forms many people never see, because they are too small to observe with the naked eye! It is truly mesmerizing, and I believe not enough people get to experience seeing these unique perspectives. I use acrylic paint and other mixed media such as oil pastel, gels, and both metallic and fluorescent paints to create one of a kind works of art inspired by what I see in the lab. Like a sample in the microscope, my art has many layers to explore and looks different depending on the angle and distance you choose for observation. The closer you look, the more detail you will find!
Akin to my love of the scientific process, I find joy in the iterative methodology of abstract painting; adding and taking away variables until everything is just right and the work can serve its purpose. The sense of growth and feeling of uncovering something no one has observed before is what I love most about creating original artworks and is the very same reason I love scientific research. I want my art to inspire people to be curious about how the world works. Most of all, I want my art to facilitate people feeling more connected to the world we live in, and ultimately foster a love of the world around us that will inspire people to make it a better place for all.
