Artist profile

Emma O’Connell

Emma O’Connell is an Australian Contemporary landscape artist based on the Central Coast of NSW.

Artist Profile

Emma O’Connell is an Australian Contemporary landscape artist based on the Central Coast of NSW. Specialising in abstract landscapes, her work explores the vast beauty of the outback through rich earthy tones and dynamic brushwork. Emma is self-taught, with a background in Visual Communication and Design, which influences her approach to composition, texture and colour.

Emma’s work is defined by a unique colour palette. The consistency of these tones has become a signature element in her work, reinforcing Emma’s connection to the land.

Emma’s work has been showcased in various exhibitions, including Clouds 3 Newcastle Art Space 2024, The Central Coast Council’s Creative Spaces Group Exhibition at Toukley, a finalist in the Northern Beaches Gallery Art Prize 2024, and currently exhibiting at retail store Book Face located at Erina Fair shopping centre.

Emma is currently represented at Tyger Gallery in Yass, and The Northern Beaches Gallery, Sydney. Emma creates in her home studio, while raising two beautiful boys with her husband.

Most of all, Emma finds endless joy in creating pieces that not only to connect us to each other and the land, but also serve as a reminder to pause, breathe, and marvel at the beauty that surrounds us.

Artist Interview

What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?

I work with acrylic paints because they offer vibrant pigmentation, fast drying times, and versatility—perfect for layering and creating the rich earthy textures and movement that define my abstract landscapes. Acrylics also allow me to build depth and transparency with different techniques while being durable and easy to manipulate. Plus, their quick drying time suits my expressive, layered approach to capturing the raw beauty of the Australian landscape.

How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?

My ideas are sparked by the Australian landscape, its rich earthy tones, movement, and natural formations. Sometimes, a specific moment in nature, a memory, or an emotion guides the initial vision. While I don’t necessarily sketch out every painting in detail, I usually make rough compositional marks to consider how layers and movement will evolve on the canvas. begin by layering acrylic paints, using various brush techniques to build depth and texture. The fast-drying nature of acrylics allows me to build layers, making adjustments as needed. Throughout the entire process, I am always stepping back to pause and assess. For refinement at the final stages, I add subtle mark-making highlights while overlaying particular colours to highlight their hue. I often give my paintings evocative names that reflect their essence and spirit. Once photographed and documents, some works are then framed. If showing in a gallery or an exhibition, I will select works that fit their vision. The entire process is truly a labour of love.

Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?

My studio? The heart of our home. I paint from my dining room, bathed in natural light, surrounded by the hum of family life. The home can become a little chaotic at times, but that doesn't stop the creative flow. Art doesn’t need a grand space; it just needs passion and a place to breathe.