Emily Thornton is one of the few winning artists behind the Surf Coast Shire’s 2021 Arts Calendar, but her success did not come easy.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old has been an artist her entire adult life but after being diagnosed with a rare brain condition she almost lost the ability to pursue her passion.<\/p>\n
The theme for this year’s calendar was ‘The World at Home’, which called for artists to express how the pandemic had impacted their lives.<\/p>\n
With close to 100 entries, each piece reflected a sense of gratitude for the small things that helped the artists get through difficult times.<\/p>\n
Among the 12 winning pieces was Emily’s work titled “The Fool”, which was a symbol of her journey, inspired by a tarot card.<\/p>\n
“The fool represents stepping into the unknown with a light heart and an attitude of an adventurer, able to overcome obstacles and retrieve great treasure, because she is supported by the universe,” Emily said.<\/p>\n
Four years ago, Emily was diagnosed with a cavernoma, where a cluster of irregular blood vessels had formed in her brain stem.<\/p>\n
“I have a pretty good attitude because I want to live with joy in my heart,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The hard truth is the cavernoma cannot be operated on because it is too deep in the brain so there is nothing, I can do to prevent more bleeds.”<\/p>\n
During the beginning of the pandemic, Emily’s condition worsened after experiencing a significant bleed.<\/p>\n
The bleed left her unable to feel her right side and she has since lost function of her once-preferred hand.<\/p>\n
“The challenges are getting bigger but that just puts me in the position to keep adapting,” she said.<\/p>\n
“My left hand is just going to keep getting better, that is the attitude I have to have.”<\/p>\n
Emily says the recognition her art has received from the community is an indication of what she is able to achieve.<\/p>\n
“I can finish a painting, I can enter it, I can win, and I can make more,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I am good enough with this disability.”<\/p>\n
The achievement comes just months after Emily was faced with the challenge of overcoming her immobility.<\/p>\n
“There is pretty severe doubt that gets in the artist’s mind when they can’t translate their inner world to the outer world.<\/p>\n
“The lack of expression can be suffocating but it forced me to adapt because I realised I couldn’t live without it and I have this whole other side of my body that is functioning.”<\/p>\n
While Emily has suffered many losses, she says it is hard to focus on the negatives because of the many gains she has endured.<\/p>\n
“The powerlessness and uncertainty of watching and waiting to see what happens can be shattering. The cavernoma freed me to stop, like COVID forced us all to stop.<\/p>\n
“I have had space and time to adapt to my body and been given an opportunity to bring my passion into my everyday life.”<\/p>\n
The 2021 Arts Calendar is now available for free at select locations across the Surf Coast Shire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Emily Thornton is one of the few winning artists behind the Surf Coast Shire’s 2021 Arts Calendar, but her success did not come easy. The 30-year-old has been an artist her entire adult life but after being diagnosed with a rare brain condition she almost lost the ability to pursue her passion. The theme for […]<\/p>\n