Interview with Emma Long

When did you start creating art and what inspired you to start? Did you have any mentors or people who inspired you to start?

I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. I have many joyful memories in preschool drawing these sort of jellyfish people, illustrating stories, and such. I think having art as a very integral part of my early learning was very integral in building up a life-long practice. My grandmother, as well, was an artist. She really encouraged and inspired me as an artist: growing up watching someone creating these beautiful oil paintings, bringing me to their studio, and gifting me very adult art supplies and books on artists. I became more serious about pursuing art in high school, and I think I really came into myself as an artist in college.

What inspired you to create the work you submitted?

I created this piece shortly after returning from a semester abroad in Ireland. It’s a daydream of being back in that country- a practice in nostalgia: dreaming of better times, of all the wonderful friendships I formed there and having a moment of freedom amid the previous years of pandemic isolation.

Tell us more about your work. What is it about? Is there any message you hope for the reader to take away from it?

The work refers to Howth, a small town outside of Dublin. It’s a popular day-trip, known for its cliff walk. It holds a special place in my heart- for the people I hiked with there- for the beauty and mysticism of Ireland’s landscapes. It’s really a piece about missing a place.

What do you think is the best part of your work? It could be a specific line, symbol, etc.

I think my favorite bit of the piece is its sense of movement. It feels very present in the materiality of the work as well, which I’m happy with.

You can view Emma's piece, 'Dreams Of Howth' in Morning Star Literary Issue One: 'Seasons'.