WE CREATE LITTLE MOMENTS OF MAGIC FOR YOUR EVERYDAY

WELCOME TO THIS IS HAPPINESS STUDIO

THE HEART BEHIND THE ART

I'M EMILY KEENER

I’m a multi disciplinary artist with a mission to keep playfulness alive in my own creative practice and to share the joy that comes from creativity with others.

HELLO FRIEND!

I'm Emily Keener, I am an artist, educator, and the heart behind This Is Happiness Studio. 

My work is full of exploration and reflection, of lingering moments and little magic. 

I use varied techniques in my creative practice, allowing myself to play in each moment. My playful creative process is highly influenced by my children, who have taught me to slow down and savor the wonder in the everyday moments. My children often pull up a chair and join me in the studio. As we playfully create together, we often bop along to music. A song that was often played during those early days in the studio together was “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. My boys would often sing along with this song, belting out: “What is happiness?!” and then would respond to their own question with. “THIS is happiness!” - planting the seed for This Is Happiness Studio.

My mission is to keep playfulness alive in my own creative practice and to share the joy that comes from creativity with others.

I hope that my playful artwork sparks a bit of joy, helps you look for the simple pleasures in life, the little treasures, and encourages you to linger in moments that make you feel the most alive!

My Story

I’ve been a maker since I was a child, always experimenting with new creative outlets. As I got older my love for art grew.  I studied  art education in college and continued on to teach elementary art.  I got to spend several years playing creatively with children, and boy did they teach me a lot! Children have a beautiful way of looking at the world. Everything is new, there is a great big magical world to discover. They soak up everything! I loved this energy that I got from the kids I taught, they sparked a lot of playfulness in my art practice.  

I set aside teaching for a while when we moved back to Pennsylvania and welcomed our first son into the world.

During the early years of motherhood I focused on my own artwork while staying home with my boys, working nap time hours. I set up a little pottery studio in my basement and started taking orders. This gave me the daily practice I needed to develop my skills as an artist. However, After several years, even though I was creating from my hands everyday, I found that my creative practice had lost its playfulness and the heart behind it.

I needed a change. I took some time to play and let loose again. I experimented with new techniques and explored different materials. I let myself become curious again. I gave myself freedom to try something new and be ok if I messed it up.

And you know what? As I began to play again, my family started to join me. My boys would pull up a chair next to me, spread out their art materials, turn up the music, and become fully immersed in their own creative process. I was so inspired by my children’s playfulness and found so much joy playfully creating alongside them. 

A song that cycled through the studio during our time of creative play, was “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. As Pharrell belted out the lyrics, my boys would shout: “What is happiness?!” … and respond to their own question … “THIS is happiness!” And This Is Happiness Studio was born.