FOR local artist Emma Van Den Elsen, creativity isn’t just a career path – it’s a birthright.
Her connection to art began before she was even born, with her mother working as an art curator at the Queensland Art Gallery while pregnant with her.
“It’s literally in my blood,” she said. “I’ve been an artist my whole life.”
At 27, Emma is carving out a distinctive place in the local arts scene, blending traditional fine art with the immediacy and vulnerability of live portraiture.
Growing up in Ipswich, Emma comes from a family with generations of local roots. Her earliest memories of artistic validation came not from galleries, but from the Ipswich Show.
“My teachers would secretly enter my drawings into the art competition,” she said. “Then on Monday morning they’d hand me the prize money. I must have been about seven.”
Traditionally, Emma’s practice centres on still life oil painting – slow, deliberate and deeply considered. But at the start of the year, she made a conscious decision to challenge herself creatively. Live portraiture, with its unpredictability and public exposure, was a stark contrast to the solitude of studio work.
“It’s been incredibly successful, but also very humbling,” she said.
“This is a completely new medium for me.”
Her live portraits are best described as whimsical and playful, but far from novelty caricatures. They carry a refined elegance – expressive linework paired with sharp observation.
“It’s truly a live performance,” she said.
“You’re welcoming people to watch you and judge you in real time, which is incredibly intimidating. Art is so personal and vulnerable – but it’s great exposure therapy.
“In a world full of AI and instant gratification, physical art is in serious danger of becoming extinct.
“Live portraits aren’t just about the end result. It’s the entire experience – watching someone create something personal with their own hands. The imperfections are what give it charm. It’s sentimental in a way a photo could never be.”
The shift into live work has also transformed Emma’s relationship with her community, working in public spaces has opened doors and conversations she never expected.
“You never know who you’re going to meet,” she said. “You always come away with a new story. I genuinely never thought I’d be invited to do a vegan singles mixer – but here we are.”
She credits the Ipswich arts community for giving her the confidence to take the leap.
“Getting your name out there is hard, and being an artist can be lonely,” she said. “The support and passion from the local arts scene made me feel like I could actually give this a go.”
Looking ahead, Emma hopes to expand her live portrait work into weddings and school formals, where capturing personality and fleeting moments feels especially meaningful, while preparing for another exhibition later this year, returning to her roots with a new body of still life oil paintings.
“We’re constantly growing and evolving as artists,” she said.“We don’t have to be stuck in a box. This journey has reminded me just how multifaceted we can be – and how powerful it is to allow yourself to try something new.”
