Behind the Brushstrokes: A Conversation with Portrait artist Emma Digerud-White
- Emily Hadley
- May 22
- 3 min read
Emma Digerud-White is a contemporary visual artist based in Cornwall. Through vibrant and layered portraits, she explores the complexities of human emotion, connection, and the inner self. Her work often features figures intertwined with dynamic colours and brushstrokes, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of love, loss, identity and the human condition.
Emma's compelling artistic voice has garnered recognition, including appearances on Grayson Perry's Art Club and participation in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, establishing her as a noteworthy presence in the contemporary art scene. Read on to find out more about her practice!
What’s your biggest ‘happy accident’ that turned out amazing in a piece? ‘Need you more’ was a very experimental piece, I hadn’t worked on the surface in that way or planned to layer that way or select those colours. My work is always very experimental and unplanned now but that was a turning point and a new direction at the time.
What piece of yours are you most proud of, and why? The piece I’m most proud of is ‘Need You More’ which is a painting of me with my two daughters. It captures a very emotionally charged moment of utter vulnerability, total devotion and unquantifiable love. Not only is it one of my favourite paintings but it was also accepted in the Royal Academy Open Exhibition which totally bowled me over.
What are some tools or techniques you use that most people wouldn’t expect?Probably mud. I often work on paintings outside and use whatever is near, I make marks with sticks and grass and often mix mud in with my paints to add subtle texture. I also start most of my paintings by squirting paint all over my hands and then smearing them across the canvas, it’s like a dance.
Is there a hidden meaning or symbolism in your work that viewers might miss? My work is filled with meaning and symbolism, if you see it, you see it and you know. I don’t want to over explain things with words, the explaining is really in the paint, and the marks and in the final result. I want people to connect with their intuition and trust what they see.
If you could have your art evoke one specific emotion in a viewer, what would it be? Definitely connection. A lot of my work is about sharing a feeling or an emotion, maybe something that is usually brushed over or moved on from too quickly.
Who are your artistic heroes, and how have they influenced your work Waaahhh so many, and different on different days. I remember loving Andy Warhol very early on, Gary Hume, Alex Katz. Munch is a big favourite as is Chantal Joffe, Tracey Emin, Laura Footes, Hannah Ryggen, Harald Solberg, Paula Modersohn- Becker, Amrita Sher-Gil I’ll stop there but could go on!
If you weren’t an artist, what would you be doing? I don’t know but I do know that I’d be deeply unhappy and unfulfilled. I can’t think about it.
What are your ‘must have’ snacks and drinks when in the studio? Usually when I’m working I’m very much in the zone and don’t give myself a lot of time to eat so it has to be quick! I eat as if it’s breakfast for as many meals as possible, so toast, cereal, yoghurt and then a rushed panic of vegetables and then sweets and dark chocolate to balance it out. I often forget to drink!
What’s the best piece of artistic advice you’ve ever received? Oh god that’s tough. Sometimes I feel a bit overloaded with advice tbh, I feel like the world is full of advice these days especially with social media etc. maybe it would be ‘be careful who you take advice from!’ I’m generally very cautious with who I share things with and ask for advice but I do have a few really good people who’s general advice I trust. My uncle told me when I was younger to keep a sketchbook, which is something that I’ve done since I was a child, that was great advice. And also a friend told me once to just Keep Going! Which is also good advice, it’s such a struggle to make art and if you keep doing it then really you’re winning.
You are hosting a dinner party and have invited 3 other artists (living or dead), who would be on the guest list? Oh god another tricky one, I’ll go for Amrita Sher-Gil, Hannah Ryggen & Paula Modersohn-Becker I’m fascinated by all three of them, their work and their lives.
Thank you for answering these questions Emma! I really enjoyed finding out the story behind your mesmerising portraits!
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