River View Artwork

Emily Donovan uses natural pigments found in plant and animal materials to create unique artwork on paper and other fibers. Her process provides a close look at the natural world and connection to the land and seasonal change. Many of her materials are foraged near her home or grown each year and harvested for color. Emily grows her own Japanese Indigo plants to create a beautiful variety of blues. Her art practice involves the long, historical tradition of creating color that predates the use of synthetic dyes and the materials are a eco-friendly practice to making art. She hopes her practice lessens her footprint on the earth and provides connections to color and the environment. A Minnesota native, Emily is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in Visual Art and Art History. She is a recipient of several Minnesota State Arts Board Grants and has studied the use of natural dye and pigments worldwide with residencies in Amsterdam, Salzburg and Peru. Her award-winning work is shown nationally in galleries, art & nature centers and museums.