Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Million.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I joke that I was a born artist. From the moment my mother nearly delivered me to Missouri State University’s sculpture studio to today, I’ve had a passion for and compulsion to create art. My parents said I would fall asleep with crayons in my hands like a toddler. Ironically, I also later earned my BFA from MSU – even taking classes from the same sculpture instructor whose class I was nearly born in.
After earning my BFA from MSU, I felt like I learned a lot of technical skills and “how to paint”, but I’d never taken a business class and had no idea how to make a career out of those skills. So I read a bunch of business books and started putting myself out there as an artist.
I would say the biggest shift happened when I stopped saying “I want to be an artist” and started saying “I am an artist” and really owning it. I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and dreamers; I’ve watched my mom build and run businesses throughout my life – she instilled in me the belief that anything is possible.
I was fortunate to land gig painting murals across the U.S. and Canada with Bass Pro Shops shortly after college and worked with some amazing artists from all over the country. I had a lot of on-the-job training, painting thousands of square feet of the mural.
A native of Missouri, I’ve always had a love for the outdoors. I grew up canoeing and hiking every navigable stretch of water and trail in Missouri and Northern Arkansas. I’m also deeply interested in the human experience and how it relates to the natural world. This – along with my years painting plants and wildlife for outdoor enthusiasts and museums – has dovetailed into my exploration and representation of cannabis through art.
I had a dream a couple of years ago that I needed to paint cannabis to help change its image and combat the stigma around it. It was one of those super vivid dreams that you wake up from thinking, “Wow, that was intense!” I woke up thinking, “Well, I guess I’m painting cannabis!” There is already a lot of cannabis art out there, but what I was seeing was mostly the same approach and representation of the plant. As cannabis prohibition comes to an end, I felt the plant needed art that would appeal to more people. And it’s a beautiful and fascinating plant; I could spend the rest of my life painting it and still find new nuance and ways to paint it.
I started painting oil on canvas strain portraits, but it took me a while to feel comfortable sharing them publicly – until I realized my hesitance was due to the stigma and concern over what people would think – and that’s part of what I wanted to help solve through my art. I’ve now painted murals for 10 dispensaries across the state.
I’ve had people private message me thanking me for my work and being vocal on social media about cannabis, people who have been helped by cannabis but because of their jobs and roles in the community can’t be public about it. I’m hopeful this will change and excited to use my skills and talents toward this goal.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think every creative or entrepreneurial endeavor comes with its challenges.
My greatest challenge initially was trying to figure out how to make a life and a business as a painter; I knew that if other artists could build successful careers, then it was possible for me, too. I’ve always been a dreamer and an idealist. I naively thought that hard work + talent = success. I learned that it takes *so* much more than that. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error – how to market, network, take care of the business side of things.
I also didn’t account for the added challenge of being a young woman in a male-dominated industry. I’ve been fortunate to have some incredible mentors and supporters along the way, but I was unprepared for some of the things I encountered being one of only a handful of women (sometimes the only woman) on job sites and construction sites.
This only toughened my resolve to help other young (especially women) artists navigate the terrain of being a professional artist and building an art career. I’m fortunate to be in a position to do that now and to nurture young talent.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m mostly known for my large-scale murals, but I also really love oil on canvas.
I primarily paint cannabis and other plant teachers. I’m interested in exploring our relationship with these plants through my art and portraying them in new and accessible ways. As cannabis prohibition comes to an end, it’s going to take all types to shape our future with these plants – and that includes new imagery. I’m most proud of my cannabis work – I feel like I am helping make a difference and that my art is my form of advocacy.
I don’t know that anything really sets me apart; there are so many talented creatives out there and each voice is unique and adds value. I just try to show up every day, do good work, and be a good human. I do try to approach my life and work with openness and curiosity, and hopefully, that translates into my work.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Ah, so many! I really love Jocelyn K. Glei’s podcast “Hurry Slowly”; her episode “Who are you without the doing?” was pivotal for reframing how I view my core self outside of what I do and produce as a human.
Other podcasts: The Good Life Project, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Rich Roll, Aubrey Marcus, Meditative Story, Everything Happens. I listen to a lot of audiobooks while I paint: Stephen Mitchell’s translation of the ‘Tao te Ching’, Brene Brown, Maria Brophy’s ‘Art, Money, Success’ – fantastic for any artist or creative (she also has a great blog), anything by Thich Nhat Hanh.
I also get a lot out of guided meditations – my meditation practice helps me show up as my best self – at work, for my friends and family, and my community; Tara Brach and Sharon Salzberg both have fantastic resources for that.
Contact Info:
- Email: emilyjmillion@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyjmillion
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilymillionstudios
Image Credits
Headshot photographed by Benjamin King (@imdinky on IG)
