FEATURED ARTIST
August 5 - 30, 2026 - Emily Lutze
Contact and Follow Emily Lutze
About Emily Lutze
Since my earliest days as a child I was drawn to creating. I've spent most of my career teaching students of all ages how to find their creative voice as a youth worker, teacher and counsellor at the Secondary level. Not only have I seen the healing power of Art Therapy, I have also seen students who struggle to connect with mainstream subjects connect with their passions through their artists voice. I have been a multi-media artist my whole adult life using clay, textiles, paints, songwriting, writing, photography and videography to interpret my inner world. I have focused much of my artistry on portraiture as I am drawn to the beauty of diverse women and the intricacy of botanicals. These pieces materialize in my mind and my process is to create a graphic design form of this image and then work from there to create the final piece with a medium of my choice. Being neurodiverse has also provided me with a unique vision of the world and creating art has been therapeutic for me over the years. There is not a moment when I am not knitting, crocheting, sketching out ideas or dreaming up my next creation.
Featured Artworks by Emily Lutze
For her full show please visit 2043 Church Road, Sooke
EMILY LUTZE INSPIRATION
Describe your creative process and how you go about starting and completing a finished piece.
I envision a piece in parts at first; they come to me in times of great pain and great joy. The parts start to materialize as a picture in my mind over time and once I see the image I sketch it out in different ways in my sketch book. I also collect images that are like what I am seeing. I then go to my computer and use graphic design programs like Photoshop/Canva to create the overall piece that I have seen in my mind. I then practice each part of the piece in my sketchbook to get the form. Once I feel confident with my overall image I go into the studio and sketch it onto my canvas, then comes the magic, creating the final piece. I have a magical art studio that was formerly y daughter's room-she is also an artist-I must be in the right headspace for it to come to fruition. I work it until I feel it is complete.
What are you most inspired by and how is this reflected in your work?
I am most inspired by nature and diverse women. I am also inspired by my state of mind which is reflected in the overall piece. My emotions at the time of creation are embedded in each piece I create. Nature has been my healing companion since my earliest memories and the fusion of women and their beauty and complexity inspire me.
What are your artistic goals and how does your work contribute to your community?
I have been a secret artist in many ways and have dedicated my life to teaching others how to tap into their creative voice and find their passion. Using teaching as a way to offer my students many tools in which to see their creative vision. I have dozens of paintings that have never been seen, I finally feel as though the time has come for me to set my pieces free. I also believe in the values of the Arts Council and am excited and honored to both volunteer and show my work in a space that is so rich. This community has also been so supportive and generous to me as an educator trying to build three fine arts programs with very minimal budgets.
