Art for the Soul
by Ted Scheffler
The Caring Arts
“I became a physician to care for others, but creating art cares for my soul,” says doctor/artist Emily Cook. With credentials that include BYU Art Major, GIA Jeweler, Doctor of Osteopathy Family Medicine and American Certified Obesity Medicine, Emily Cook is well-suited to caring for others.
She creates art via a variety of mediums, including clay and metal, but says that painting is currently her favorite medium. Her paintings are expressionistic and realistic, made with acrylic/watercolor and oil, in both small and large painting formats.
Art on the Side
Cook’s paintings are so stunning, it’s a surprise to learn that she just does painting “on the side.” She’s a full-time family medicine physician who believes that fine art ought to be a feature of the average home, saying “We love art, we want to be able to make handmade art available to the public. Most people rely on home decorations from Target stores, etc, so why not have handmade fine art?” And her art is whimsical and fun, with a focus on landscapes, vistas and floral scenes that would look great on anyone’s wall. Utah landscapes and scenes are a prime focus of her art.
You won’t find Emily Cook art at Target (yet, anyway), but you can see it online at EmilyCook.art, at art galleries, and, of course, at this summer’s Made in Utah Festival.
When asked about future goals, Cook says she wants to “Produce more art, enjoy life, heal people, be of service, and help my fellow artists become more confident.” With regard to her “professional” career and day job, since she is board-certified in obesity medicine, she hopes “My practice will be more consolidated in teaching nutrition and health and I can add in a humanity/artistic component.” Most of all she wants to “continue creating!”
Bomb Away!
When asked about what kind of advice she’d give to someone thinking about starting a similar art venture to hers, Cook has a philosophical, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” type of response, encouraging her fellow artists to “Just keep painting, and if it bombs, let’s learn from it. Each season of life brings a new creative spark.”