ABOUT

Hi, I’m Emily! I’m a creative spirit, animal caretaker, artist, and proud mom of two grown sons. 

My journey has been full of unexpected turns—having two sons, a husband, and a new home on six acres, all by the age of 21. 

After starting out as a stay-at-home mom, I worked in elementary education and even spent a short stint at a veterinary hospital while studying animal care. 

But my true passion for art and creativity really took shape in 2022 when I decided to leap outside my comfort zone as a self-taught artist.

As a small-town girl at heart, I’ve always loved being hands-on, whether it’s working on DIY projects around our farm, tending to my animals, or creating colorful, whimsical paintings.

I’ve been hobby painting for years, but it wasn’t until I sold my first piece—which was enough to cover my pony Shiloh's Cushing’s medication—that I realized the power of using my creativity to support my farm life. 

Since then, I’ve expanded my art beyond whimsical wall decor to include journals, planners, notebooks, and coloring books.

I live on a small farm with my husband, Paul, and our beloved animal crew, including seven indoor cats, two ponies who require daily medications and special care, a miniature horse, and a flock of chickens. 

We don’t run a sanctuary, but we treat every animal like family and cover all of their care expenses ourselves. 

Caring for these animals has truly been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life, and it continually inspires my creative work.

After planting a butterfly garden in 2024, I caught the "flower bug" and am now experimenting with growing flowers, which I’ll be documenting on the blog. 

This next chapter is all about experimenting, learning, and embracing the joy of the little things—from gardening and painting to illustrating and running my little farm with creativity and love.

Whether it’s painting, growing flowers, DIY projects, or caring for my animals, I’m always creating something that brings joy to my home—and hopefully to yours as well.

Thank you for being a part of my creative journey! 

Feel free to follow along on Instagram @farmdustandpaint, and I hope you’ll find something in my Etsy shop or Amazon books that brings a smile to your face.

Thanks for being here! 

XOXO

Emily