Emerlye Arts is very pleased to announce that we have begun to republish select artwork, coloring journals, and greeting cards. Displayed below are some of the items now available for purchase at our ONLINE STORE.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO CYNTHIA EMERLYE and tell you a bit about her, her love of family and nature, and her love of creating beautiful art and crafts. To know her was to feel that her love of life was apparent in every challenge and path she undertook.
We have created this legacy tribute website in order to keep her spirit, love, art, and joy of life alive for all who were her family and friends; for all who knew her and enjoyed using her art to further enhance their own well being and spirit. And, we welcome new friends who are just now discovering her art and legacy, and invite everyone to join us to help celebrate in Cynthia’s memory.
Let us begin to share my mother's story, and how she found the life path she so vigorously explored and embraced.
Cynthia Emerlye was born in Rhode Island, USA, during the baby boom after World War II. Growing up in a creative, traveling family she was introduced to homey and fine crafts at quite a young age. In the 1950s, people were still taught the ways of self-sufficiency and how to make the most of what they had. Among those items were the necessary skills of sewing, knitting, crochet, cooking, growing one's own food, baking and preserving all manner of foods by canning and drying methods, and more. But, her parents and grandparents did not forget about the more fun, light-hearted aspects of home life. Throughout her childhood, she was given music and piano lessons and art lessons which included painting, drawing, and carving. She continued to pursue her artistic interests in high school where she began to win local and state art contests. After graduating high school, Cynthia was accepted at Mount Holyoke College. While at college, she still found time to continue advancing her artistic interests, taking many art classes. She even found time to produce a large number of watercolor paintings which she showed at a well-known art gallery in Barrington, Rhode Island.
After college, Cynthia married and became the mother to six beautiful children. Taking care of the home and raising the children was her primary career for the next quarter-century. In 1990, she and the children moved to a small farm in Pomfret, Vermont (where she lived until passing away after a battle with cancer in 2017). With the children now adults, she had more time for her art. In short time, Cynthia made a name for herself locally and nationally, then internationally. Using her home-based studio in Vermont, she created and produced greeting cards, was commissioned by individuals for fine artwork and paintings, created logos for local and state businesses, and created a series of popular, complex adult coloring books and journals.
In just a few short years, Cynthia developed a unique, distinctive style that was – and still is – all her own. The work is detailed and elegant, complex and richly feminine in nature recalling the gorgeously illuminated manuscripts of the Renaissance and the incredibly detailed work of William Morris. Her black and white florals are highly distinctive and have been adapted to many decorative and commercial uses. Using a soft, rainbow-based palette of color, her paintings and illustrations incorporated mystic symbols and mythic iconography into the dreamscapes she created.
Cynthia was also an expert kirigami craftsman. She had a love affair with paper and created intricate, finely cut paper art for several decades. As an annual winter tradition, Cynthia even hosted a paper "Snowflake” cutting party at her home to launch the holiday season. In fact, each year she cut about 150 one-of-a-kind snowflakes that were displayed at her home and around town. As with other artwork, she also offered them for sale online and in select galleries and gift shops in the United States and Europe.
I hope you have enjoyed this brief introduction into Cynthia’s life, and we look forward to sharing more of her life's stories, ideas, work, and achievements for you to enjoy in the months to come. Until then, have fun looking at the gallery of some her artwork below and please sign our Guest Book. We would love to hear from you!
In closing, we think you will be as excited as we are with the news that we have begun republishing a select collection of some of her artwork and coloring journals which are now available at our ONLINE STORE! For highlights on the products now available, please read the "Available Journals and Cards" section above.
On behalf of my family and everyone here at Emerlye Arts, thank you for visiting and we hope you will come back often!
— Rachael Edith Emerlye
What Emerlye Enthusiasts are Saying
The Little Book of Colouring for Mindfulness —This is a beautiful book for some 100 intricate mandala patterns to colour at your leisure and using your own imagination. This is a very creative and relaxing way to rid yourself of the stresses and strains of a busy day. . . .This colouring book can be appreciated by all ages to share. . .
Sussman As reviewed on Amazon - 5.0 out of 5 stars; June 9, 2016
My favorite coloring pages and books and I really love her other art work. The designs are challenging, but not so repetitious as to become boring. I will be framing the Open Hearts and the wreaths with baby photos in the center for my Sunday School parents. . . I love this art.
E. Corman As reviewed on Amazon; October 31, 2016
OMG! I was at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science today. Look what was prominently displayed by the front window of the gift shop. . . my sister Cynthia Emerlye's nature mandala coloring book. Awesome!
E. Ahlers As posted on Emerlye Arts Facebook page; February 28, 2017
THE NATURE MANDALA by Cynthia Emerlye —If you like coloring mandalas but got bored with geometrical designs this book offers something a bit different for you. Insects, birds, animals and sea creatures are beautifully wound into designs of the mandalas in this book.
O. Rani As posted on YouTube.com (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD80Oz6CSI8); June 25, 2017
The Nature Mandala Coloring Book —I first heard rave reports about Cynthia's drawing last year but I've only just now got my hands on one of her books. It has been a while since I last coloured a mandala, having been discouraged by overly fussy, highly detailed images. Colouring Cynthia's mandala is a totally opposite experience. Her mandalas are a joy to colour.
Prue As reviewed on GoodReads.com - 5.0 out of 5 stars; April 22, 2016
Radial Symmetry: Complex Mandalas for Adults to Color —Wonderful, as are all of Cynthia's coloring books and portfolios. . . the designs are beautiful. With this paper, colored pencils seem luminescent, as if soft light shines behind the page. Given the quality of the paper, I don't think there'd be any problem using gel-pens. . .
Avid Reader As reviewed on Amazon - 5.0 out of 5 stars; April 26, 2017
Cynthia Emerlye was born in Rhode Island, USA, during the baby boom after World War II. Growing up in a creative, traveling family she was introduced to homey and fine crafts at quite a young age. In the 1950s, people were still taught the ways of self-sufficiency and how to make the most of what they had. Among those items were the necessary skills of sewing, knitting, crochet, cooking, growing one's own food, baking and preserving all manner of foods by canning and drying methods, and more. But, her parents and grandparents did not forget about the more fun, light-hearted aspects of home life. Throughout her childhood, she was given music and piano lessons and art lessons which included painting, drawing, and carving. She continued to pursue her artistic interests in high school where she began to win local and state art contests. After graduating high school, Cynthia was accepted at Mount Holyoke College. While at college, she still found time to continue advancing her artistic interests, taking many art classes. She even found time to produce a large number of watercolor paintings which she showed at a well-known art gallery in Barrington, Rhode Island.
After college, Cynthia married and became the mother to six beautiful children. Taking care of the home and raising the children was her primary career for the next quarter-century. In 1990, she and the children moved to a small farm in Pomfret, Vermont (where she lived until passing away after a battle with cancer in 2017). With the children now adults, she had more time for her art. In short time, Cynthia made a name for herself locally and nationally, then internationally. Using her home-based studio in Vermont, she created and produced greeting cards, was commissioned by individuals for fine artwork and paintings, created logos for local and state businesses, and created a series of popular, complex adult coloring books and journals.
In just a few short years, Cynthia developed a unique, distinctive style that was – and still is – all her own. The work is detailed and elegant, complex and richly feminine in nature recalling the gorgeously illuminated manuscripts of the Renaissance and the incredibly detailed work of William Morris. Her black and white florals are highly distinctive and have been adapted to many decorative and commercial uses. Using a soft, rainbow-based palette of color, her paintings and illustrations incorporated mystic symbols and mythic iconography into the dreamscapes she created.
Cynthia was also an expert kirigami craftsman. She had a love affair with paper and created intricate, finely cut paper art for several decades. As an annual winter tradition, Cynthia even hosted a paper "Snowflake” cutting party at her home to launch the holiday season. In fact, each year she cut about 150 one-of-a-kind snowflakes that were displayed at her home and around town. As with other artwork, she also offered them for sale online and in select galleries and gift shops in the United States and Europe.
