Meet the Smugglers: This series of nautical watercolor paintings combines original art with history and antiques to create a collection full of true treasures. Each watercolor painting glows with energy, mystery, and an air of misty magic that only the sea and flapping sails can evoke. The frames are works of art too. Em scoured thrift stores, antique stores, ebay listings, and attics to find the perfect antiques or reconstructed frames for this collection. Some of the frames are over 100 years old, and each one was selected to make the piece of art it holds come alive with history. The series is entitled “Smugglers,” and was inspired by true stories of men and women from American history who hopped aboard a ship and risked much to protect their families, culture, and country. Some paintings are accompanied by their own short story, written by the artist, telling a fictional tale based on the life of real smugglers from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Prohibition era, and the California Gold Rush.

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Em’s creation and sharing of this series of work is a nod at secrets smuggled inside each of us, and an invitation to the viewer to question why, and for whom, we choose to carry them.