Creative Parents: Emma-Kate Wilson (freelance writer and mother of two)
So this is substack?
Hello, welcome to ‘Creative Parents’, a substack I've been meaning to share for a little while. (And hello to former email subscribers — if you aren’t interested in this topic, please feel free to unsubscribe!)
The premise of this is to interview —you guessed it— creative parents. As a creative parent, I may use this platform to share my own writing work on art and design. I love to write essays, so I feel like I have some great pieces to share on here. I often interview incredible parents, and we naturally discuss parenting (it's all encompassing). This series first started after the birth of my first child, published for hunterandfolk.com. Here is the full series. I'd love to revisit the interviews from these articles and reveal all the details.
I have a huuugeeeee list of parents I’d love to interview, but also this grows almost every time I chat to a new artist or designer. However, this isn't just about parenting; it's about multitasking. Juggling life. And how does a creative career look amongst our culture? Parenting is just another dynamic, so this substack is for all. I hope I don't ostracise any creatives who aren't parents. Even before I had my two girls I was interested in learning from parenting. Is raising children the ultimate art project? Potentially.
I'd love this to be a ‘safe’ space, where we can discuss and be open, and leave judgment behind. We are all trying our best. Please leave a comment below if you have a burning question you'd like me to ask. Or anyone you'd like me to interview? And, if you have any questions for me? I think art writing has a lot of mysteries, so if you have questions—ask away!
I learnt a trick after the birth of my first child of working directly into Google docs on my phone. She was a serial contact napper. So I would spend hours of the day with her sleeping on my chest while I typed away on my phone. Ideas, research, even writing were all conducted in the dark, white noise blaring at me. As such, I wanted to hear how other parents did it. How they survived to stay creative and motivated. But also how we change, and life changes.
I’ve decided to get this off the ground, that it can’t be perfect. It’s really, really long and will take 15 minutes to read — so grab a coffee!
Here goes, just in time for Mother’s Day, my Q&A as a freelance art and design writer, mother of two beautiful little girls.
Can you tell us about your art & design practice — what do you create, with what, and why?
I’m an art and design writer—mostly writing about art exhibitions for guide magazines like Art Almanac and Art Guide, about artists and craft people for Art Collector and Homo Faber, and architecture and interior design for Houses, Habitus Living, Domain, and Interiors AU. I also write essays for artists’ statements and exhibitions. I love this the most, and wish I could do an essay a day. And now this! Interviewing parents for Substack (mostly to get tips on surviving these years!!)
I use an iMac at my desk; it’s huge and great for viewing images and architecture / interior design on the big screen. I then have a MacBook Air I can pick up quickly when I need to or when we are on the road. And finally, my little Google Pixel, which keeps me connected and working when I need to!
How did you get here?
It’s a bit of a funny story. I discovered I could draw when I was about 14, which was a complete shock to myself and my teacher, as I hadn’t really been that interested in art before then. I still remember this day at school; the project was to create a ‘hybrid’ creature, I think mine had a cross of a horse or giraffe in there. My teacher loved it, and I tapped into a headspace I didn’t know was there. I ended up doing a GCSE in art, and carried on with art to A-level (along with English & History). I realised when I was in class, I so much more preferred looking at the other students’ work. I loved the research and the ideas. But my final piece never quite got to where I wanted it to be (though, thanks, mum for still hanging my art on the wall—I understand completely now). Instead, I was a natural art critic (R.I.P. art criticism).
After school, I couldn’t decide between studying art history, journalism, or English, so I went travelling instead. First to South Africa, and then Australia in 2013, working in cafes and doing my farm work (in Bundaberg—I’ve seen some things!). In my second year, I found a pull to art writing after volunteering in a little gallery in The Rocks, Sydney. I applied to the University of New South Wales, Art and Design, choosing Art Theory — a combo of studying contemporary art, design, and art history from the last 150 years or so. Oh gosh, I loved uni so much. I wish I could go back and study more (I’m planning to when my girls are older!). I naturally fell into writing after trying galleries and curating (neither were for me—too many constraints!). I love love love reading about art and design, and talking to artists, designers, curators, etc. My work is more than just the words. But it’s about the conversations and ideas. I’d do it for free (and do it for free, hello Substack). I guess this is what happens when your hobby becomes your work!
I'm not going to lie. Freelancing is a slog! Constant emailing and rejections. But it works for my slightly chaotic brain that is just going a million miles an hour. I'm always ready for the next piece! I do wish I had more time to sit and be with a piece of writing.
What inspires your work? Any particular design periods or philosophies?
I’m inspired by those who want to help the environment—through perception or physically, through sustainable design. I believe we have a LOT to learn from Indigenous cultures around the world.
I read a lot! Plus, I love artists, designers, and writers who make you feel something. Something so unnerving and unsettling that you change how you think or how you look at the world.
When did you know you wanted to become a creative? Was there an influential figure growing up?
I was always obsessed with the glossy fashion mags and those early brilliant blogs—like Tavi Gevinson and ManRepeller. I was definitely a Tumblr girl. Also, my mom is a style icon with her own approach completely. She's my biggest inspiration for just being authentic to yourself. She has five kids and works full time in her own business. She'd rock up to school excursions in red calfskin heeled cowboy boots. Iconic.
I thought I’d end up in fashion as clothes felt so accessible to me. But if you’ve met me, you’ll know why I didn’t end up in fashion! Instead, I’ve gone (sort of) down the path of journalism (I never know how to answer the career question as writer can mean so many things, copy, journo, critic, essayist, fiction). And I look, I hear, I probe, and question.
What have been some of the highlights of your career, and what do you have coming up? Do you have a favourite project?
Writing for physical magazines, like Art Collector, Art Almanac, Art Guide, Artichoke, Houses & more, is a bit of a dream come true. To be in print is something special, and I hope we can hold onto it. Also, I've written art essays for so many inspiring artists — you can read them here. I feel so lucky and grateful I can do this as a career, and I feel so thankful to all my artists who chose me to help with their vision. Every time I speak to a creative, I learn something new about the world. I still feel so new at this. But I think that's because I still have so much to learn.
Starting up ‘Creative Parents’ is such a goal of mine. It’s often felt that we shouldn’t talk about our children. I’ve had artists tell me they don’t want to include their mother role in art statements, even though the two can inspire each other so much. That’s really what this series is about. Breaking down barriers and the blatant sexism. It’s mothers who feel self-conscious. Which is also why this is about ‘parenting’. I’m not focusing just on mothers (we have enough of this). Let’s level the playing field. Let’s ask mums about their careers, and also, hey, dads, how do you balance your art practice and raising children?
Who is in your family and their ages?
My wonderful husband Chris, my rock. Soundboard to everything. My biggest supporter of my practice. And when I met him in my second year of uni, I knew I wanted to raise babies with him almost straight away (though I was happy to wait — we had a lot of fun years travelling, camping, and partying!). Choosing to become a freelance writer was very much part of that vision after realising that working in a gallery isn't that family-friendly!
In 2021, we added Sadie (3.5), and in 2023, Margot (18 months) to the family. They bring such another layer to my writing that I could never have foreseen—which changes almost every day, and completely and entirely in different seasons. Since struggling to conceive and discovering endometriosis, to the day I found out I was pregnant and going down with hyperemesis gravidarum (the condition where you vomit multiple times a day and can’t keep fluids or food down). It’s been a complete surrender since day one!
Where are you based, and why did you choose this area? It would also be great to reflect on your own home + design choices with your family in mind.
I’m based in ‘beautiful’ Bellingen on the mid-north coast. It's such a stunning town, 15 minutes to pristine creeks, an epic coastline, and then the mountains. It's a quirky town with creatives and alternative living. I love that my girls will grow up surrounded by so much expression. Lots of hippies moved here in the 70s, and revitalised a dying dairy town, and it's been a transient place since then. I highly recommend watching Bellingen The Promised Land documentary — especially if you have any thoughts on the mass migration to regional towns post-COVID. It's been happening here for years and saved the town from disappearing. Equally, those who moved here care about nature and the environment and have saved that too. It's still an ongoing battle, so I also recommend further engagement here. It's about nature here. I'm obsessed with trees. You move to Bellingen if you love trees.
We moved after having Sadie, on a bit of a whim! Chris' family are all up in Byron Bay, so it feels a little bit closer. It was such a gamble to move; my husband didn’t have work here, so I knew I had to really hustle! That means looking for ideas constantly, emailing and emailing and emailing editors, saying — hi, I'm still here! I'm so lucky now to have such incredible editors. We had a surprise baby not long after we moved, so that put another spin on things. Luckily, I can work really easily with a baby around. A toddler is a different story. (and daycare is hard to find in Bellingen, plus we don’t have family around—it’s a juggle for sure!)
Our house is perfect for raising little kids. A very ordinary 90s brick home with family in mind. We have basic plans for a simple renovation. But for now, the original kitchen and bathroom work fine. It’s a lovely backdrop for the rhythms of our days. A mix of second-hand furniture and the beautiful wooden toys I collect for the girls. We have two massive bookshelves for my collection, and I have an office with views of trees and mountain glimpses. I’m very grateful for it all. It's not flashy, but it's homey and cosy. We’ve also found a beautiful community of like-minded people. Our girls will attend the local Steiner school, which I’m very excited about. It feels like a return to what’s important. Nature, creativity, and learning how to seek validation from within rather than external sources.
Our life in Bellingen is very simple. We swim in the creek or at the beach. Spend time at home, in the garden. It suits us very well right now as neither girls like to sleep! It's 3.5 years of sleep deprivation. I'd love to hear how other working parents manage it?
Has becoming a mother changed your practice?
I can now work incredibly fast in limited time. It is crazy to me how much I can get done in an hour-long nap. And physically, I’m very tired with 3.5 years of broken sleep under my belt. I don’t read as much as I used to, and I don’t visit galleries or openings that often anymore. I know this will come back eventually, so I’m letting go of the pressure I feel like I put myself under.
I like to show the girls what or who I’m writing about. I think it’s important for them to see what I do for work to show them that a 9-5 career isn’t the only option. To hopefully give them confidence. It's so hard to find what “you want to do”, and then if you work creatively, “doing what you love”, can come with a lot of challenges. I think by exposing these challenges, you can make them less scary.
When I started out, I used to think of all the cold emailing as jumping into an icy ocean pool. After the initial shock, it feels so good to jump in. My industry can be really harsh. The feedback, or lack of, can be soul-destroying. It’s hard to pick yourself back up and go again sometimes. But you can learn from these experiences. And grow a thicker skin. I’m trying to grow a thicker skin, but also still be soft and sensitive. I think the art industry also needs this. Less ego. More compassion. Which is really what this series is about.
My girls are also re-teaching me to be innocent and gullible. I spent my mid to late 20s getting too tough in Sydney. My thirties are about softening. Simplifying. The world is a lot more interesting when you drop the misreadings and misjudgments. It’s a nice feeling to remove the menace. Other people’s opinion of you is really none of your business. I have a impostor syndrome and anxiety. But being a mum is something I never second-guess. I have confidence here, which is so surprising for me. Because I’m now time poor at my desk, I’m trying to bring this energy into my work. No time to second-guess something! This might also be because of experience— I’ve been writing for ten years!
What does your day-to-day look like, and how has this changed from previously?
I will start by saying, my life as a freelance writer was always all over the place, which suits me perfectly. I can not stick to a routine (except for coffee first thing) to save my life. So this hasn’t changed. Except I used to drink my coffee in bed, maybe even grab my laptop and log in for a few hours from there. I’ve always, always worked seven days a week. I can’t switch off.
Now, I get woken up by a child, likely Margot at the moment, for her 15th nightly feed (if anyone has some kind night weaning tips, I'd love to hear them). I try to stay asleep for as long as possible, so Chris will often get up with the girls and give them breakfast. I come down, have my coffee, and then often a second round of breakfast (we call it the ‘breakfast buffet’). And then the day really depends on whose home. If Chris isn’t working, he’ll take the girls so I can work in my office until about 3.30/4pm. My days are such a mix of researching, emailing, writing, and interviewing. Writing is probably only 25% of the work!
If Chris is at work, I really love to give the girls all my attention. When I only had Sadie, I would work on my laptop while she played around me. But now she has to share me with Margot, so it’s harder for her to share with work.
After a busy day, I love to make dinner, and we all sit together and eat, which is a really special time of connection for us. I wouldn’t want to let a job get in the way of me cooking dinner, as this is how I unwind and de-centre and return to this moment in time.
I’m also trying really hard to get back into yoga and pilates (rebuilding that core!!). It helps me tune back into my mind and cancel out all the noise. Anxiety is an issue for me, which can spiral if I don’t get a handle on it. I found therapy doesn’t really work. But yoga does wonders. And reading fiction! I read on my phone through a library e-book app. It means I actually get to read, as it’s always on me. I love a physical book, but reading is more important right now. Plus Substack! What a great site. I love to discover after the kids are in bed.
We were lucky in a way that covid gave us an introduction to early parenting. A daily walk on the beach or through a forest also does wonders! We got used to not going out and home became a sanctuary!
Do you have any advice for creative parents?
Just start. That’s the hardest thing for me. The creativity gets flowing once I’ve started. Even that means picking up my phone and writing some notes in Google docs while making the kids’ snacks.
What are your thoughts on the approach of the design industry to parents? Have you found support or lack of?
This is an interesting question for me to answer. Most people are parents, so they understand. But at the same time, they still expect you to be available when they need you. They also won’t hold jobs for you if you have a sick kid or can’t arrange childcare, or if you are on maternity leave (a deadline is a deadline after all). In addition, I’ve had to set up very clear expectations on workload and management, mostly for myself. I hate saying no to jobs, but I can’t do it all. In saying all this, I’ve had so many interesting conversations about parenting. It adds so much nuance to everything. And I’ve learnt, the playfield is always changing! My girls are still so little, and I’m trying to cherish this time at home with them. Writing will always, hopefully, be there.
There is a softness that comes with parenting/mothering you can fight it, or lean into it ♥️
You can read more of my writing here: emmakatewilson.net/new
And on Instagram: @emmakatewilson_art
I love this interview-style intro to you and Creative Parents. I'm also a creative parent with a background in industrial design, working a day job and fostering my interest in illustration bite sized moments throughout the day. I find that making art has been so helpful in finding my way back to ME after becoming a mum. So glad I found my way over here and I look forward to reading more!